Coronavirus COVID-19 News - 16102020

16 October 2020

 
 

Headline News

Wales introduces travel restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus

New regulations to prevent people who live in areas with high coronavirus infection rates across the UK from travelling to Wales will come into force later today, First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed.

Written Statement: Amendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020

A statement by Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister

New coronavirus restrictions are being introduced in Bangor following a sharp rise in cases, First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed.

Marcus Rashford MBE backs Welsh Government decision to ensure free school meal provisions for every school holiday until Easter 2021

The Welsh Government has guaranteed free school meal provision for all school holidays up to and including Easter 2021, thanks to £11m confirmed today by Education Minister Kirsty Williams.

 

Coronavirus regulations: frequently asked questions

What you and businesses can and cannot do during the outbreak and what happens if you break these new laws.

Keeping learners safe in education

Information and supporting guidance to help schools and other providers to keep learners safe.

Back to school plans from September

Back to school plans from September

Free school meal costs for self-isolating or shielding learners

Guidance about local authority costs for free school meals when learners are self-isolating or shielding.

Guidance for higher education: Keep Wales Safe 

What the higher education sector can do to protect the health and safety of students, staff and their community.

Further education

Changes to learning, exams, and attending schools and colleges during the coronavirus pandemic.

Letters from the Welsh Government to the UK travel industry and UK ministers about local lockdowns in Wales

Letters from the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Transport and Economy to UK ministers and UK travel industry outlining the situation about local lockdowns in Wales.

COVID-19 Planning and Response Rehabilitation Task and Finish Group 2020

A summary of the work of the Rehabilitation Task and Finish Group and next steps.

Travellers exempt from Welsh border rules: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Explains who is exempt from self isolation requirements under new Welsh border rules introduced due to coronavirus.

Genomic analysis of Covid-19 lineages in Wales

This document outlines some of the insights that have been gained from the genomics work that has been undertaken to date, in order to support decision making.

Written Statement: Local coronavirus restrictions

A statement by Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales

Other News

Moving towards a new Curriculum for Wales

Education Minister Kirsty Williams has published an updated action plan setting out the next steps in Wales’ reform journey, ahead of the introduction of the new Curriculum for Wales in 2022.

Work under way on £30m A55 improvement scheme

Work on a major scheme to further protect the A55 against flooding and improve safety is under way, Minister for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates announced

New Health and Wellbeing Village in Bridgend to provide a major boost for community care, mental health and wellbeing

On World Mental Health Day, a new £23 million integrated Health and Wellbeing Village in Bridgend, supported by funding of £18 million from the Welsh Government has been announced.

Welsh Government to give Councils powers to crack down on Pavement Parking

The Welsh Government is to give Local Authorities the power to fine people parking on pavements.

Changes to planning rules to help unlock development potential in Wales

Changes to the planning policy to allow Welsh councils to compulsory purchase empty houses and vacant land have been announced by the Minister for Housing and Local Government.

Incentives to attract new Biology teachers as 50% more future secondary teachers accept training places

The Welsh Government  announces that increased incentives will be offered to attract more Biology teachers from next year. In the last five years, Biology has fallen into the bottom five subjects for the number of applications per teacher post.

New funding for facilities will boost community wellbeing

The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, announced Welsh Government funding of £900k for improvements to community-based facilities through the Community Facilities Programme.

Independent report provides in-depth analysis of the school funding system in Wales and makes recommendations for improvements

The Welsh Government has published an independent report into school spending in Wales.

Written Statement: Ministerial Responsibilities

The First Minister published the updated Ministerial Responsibilities document, which sets out changes made to the Ministerial portfolios

Written Statement: Use of Penally army training camp for asylum seekers

A statement by Jane Hutt MS, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip

Local Lockdown Information

Restrictions to reduce the spread of coronavirus and protect public health in areas of  Wales.

Legislation,Technical Advice & Statistics.

Information to help ministers respond in the best interests of the Welsh population to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Promotional Materials & Toolkits

Keep Wales Safe promotional materials

 

Test, Trace Protect promotional materials

Test, Trace, Protect promotional material including promotional materials for the new COVID-19 app.

Business Wales Tool Kit

Practical resources to help employers keep their workforce safe at work

Symptom Study

Help us fight coronavirus by reporting your health daily, even if you feel well.

You can help us fight coronavirus by completing a daily health survey on the COVID-19 symptom study app. This app is for everyone, not just for those who have symptoms.

The app will help us understand the symptoms and spread of COVID-19. By answering some quick questions, you can help us plan our response to coronavirus.

We will not share the answers you give us beyond the NHS and trusted organisations working directly with the NHS in response to coronavirus.

Test, Trace, Protect strategy

A campaign is underway aimed at informing the general public and critical workers of the Welsh Government’s Test, Trace, Protect strategy. The website has been updated with the latest information on the strategy, including guidance for employers (https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus). New video and animated social assets have been produced for use across paid-for campaigns and for stakeholders to share through their own channels. The assets are available to download here and please disseminate these to your networks and use across your social media channels to help share information on Test, Trace, Protect.

Information

Diogelu Cymru

 

Business and employers

Support to help businesses and third sector organisations affected by coronavirus.

Diogelu Cymru

 

Coronavirus health advice

Stay at home, self-isolation, support as an extremely vulnerable person. 

Diogelu Cymru

 

Education and childcare

Guidance on coronavirus for parents, everyone working in education and childcare providers.

Diogelu Cymru

 

Health and social care professionals

Coronavirus guidance for the NHS and people working in social, community and residential care

Diogelu Cymru

 

Housing

Guidance for landlords, park (mobile) homes and rough sleeper services during the coronavirus pandemic

Diogelu Cymru

 

Travel

Coronavirus advice for people returning from abroad or planning to travel

Diogelu Cymru

 

Volunteering (third sector)

Volunteering during the coronavirus pandemic, support for the third sector

Diogelu Cymru

 

Community services

Planning, fire, domestic abuse and sexual violence

Diogelu Cymru

 

Jobs,skills and financial support

Help with benefits, to stay in work and gain new skills

Useful links

Welsh Government

Public Health Wales

Business Wales

Looking out for each other

Volunteering Wales

 
 
 

ABOUT

This newsletter provides you with the latest Welsh Government advice and guidance on the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Find out more on the web:

gov.wales/coronavirus

Follow us on Twitter:

@WelshGovernment