Welsh Government's coronavirus update

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

• People who are asked to self-isolate via the NHS Covid-19 app will now be eligible to apply for the £500 self-isolation support payment, Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James has announced.
• From today app users who have been notified as being exposed to the virus, are on low income and at risk of financial hardship are eligible alongside those who have been asked to self-isolate by Test, Trace, Protect or parents whose child has been asked to self-isolate by their education setting.
• https://gov.wales/users-nhs-covid-19-app-now-eligible-apply-ps500-self-isolation-payment
• FAQs: self isolation support scheme https://gov.wales/self-isolation-support-scheme
• Mental Health Minister Eluned Morgan has today spoken of her commitment to ensuring support is available for changing mental health needs as she announced more than £9m will be available to support children and young people in Wales.
• The additional funding, announced at the start of Children’s Mental Health Week, recognises the effect being away from school and regular support networks has had on young people during the pandemic.
• https://gov.wales/pledge-support-youth-extra-ps94m-investment-children-and-young-people-mental-health-services
• Watch the Minister’s press conference again: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1356214630897512451
• Wales’ Chief Medical Officer Dr Frank Atherton has published his annual report which looks back at Wales’ initial actions in response to the pandemic from early 2020 until the end of the summer, and considers what lessons can be learned: https://gov.wales/chief-medical-officer-wales-sets-out-lessons-learnt-covid-19-pandemic 

• Technical Advisory Group report Using Behavioural Science to Inform Policy and Practice: https://gov.wales/technical-advisory-group-using-behavioural-science-inform-policy-and-practice 

• Alert level four – frequently asked questions: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 630 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 192,912 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 21 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,775.
• 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 416,306 people have received their first dose
• And 841 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/ and https://gov.wales/vaccine-coronavirus
• 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   Eluned Morgan, Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Welsh Language held today’s press conference. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1356214630897512451