Welsh Government's latest coronavirus update

Latest coronavirus update from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) is:

• Learners in Wales studying for Qualifications Wales-approved GCSE, AS and A-levels this year will receive grades determined by their school or college, based on work they have completed over their course.
• The policy decision was confirmed by Education Minister Kirsty Williams today following further disruption to face-to-face learning caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
• The announcement followed recommendations from the design and delivery advisory Group that is made up of head teachers and college leaders.
• https://gov.wales/changes-qualifications-confirmed-education-minister-kirsty-williams-following-further-disruption
• Education Minister Kirsty Williams explains the decision: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1351907367965884426
• Written statement: https://gov.wales/written-statement-update-general-qualifications-2021-0

 

• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has published a statement about vaccine supply and deployment: https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-vaccine-supplies-and-deployment
• A Covid recovery app has been launched today as part of wider support on offer for people experiencing the longer term effects of coronavirus.
• The bilingual, first of its kind, app has been developed by the NHS Wales respiratory health group on behalf of the Welsh Government and has been designed to offer people a bespoke tool and personal coach to help them on their road to recovery.
• https://gov.wales/recovery-app-launched-wales-help-support-people-long-covid
• Businesses in Wales have received in excess of £1.7bn from the Welsh Government since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
• More than 178,000 grants totalling £1bn have been delivered through local authorities who have been administering schemes on behalf of Welsh Government including the Non-Domestic Rates scheme, Start-Up Grant and the Discretionary Fund.
• https://gov.wales/more-17-billion-reaches-businesses-wales
• A statement has been published outlining an issue affecting a small number of swabs used in the sampling of Covid-19, as a result of laboratory testing quality control measures in place and the diligence of Public Health Wales laboratory staff.
• https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-sampling-swab-issues

 

• The Welsh Government is to seek the Senedd’s consent for an emergency bill to be introduced to ensure the next Senedd election happens safely, enabling the electorate to participate and vote during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic https://gov.wales/ministers-seek-senedd-consent-for-emergency-bill-to-manage-senedd-election-during-covid-pandemic

 

• The facts about coronavirus: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-facts

 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,283 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 183,882 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 44 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,346.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

• The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
• The latest figures show 175,816 people have received their first dose
• And 370 people have received two doses of the vaccine
• https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

 

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

• The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
• Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test
• You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.
• Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
   

Where to find the latest information

• Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/
• Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

o   Health Minister Vaughan Gething held today’s press conference. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1351865971447787523