Author: Rhys Gregory

Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government Hannah Blythyn is reminding people to play their part in keeping each other safe and protecting our NHS by acting responsibly when it comes to taking their exercise this weekend. Public paths and land in several popular areas across Wales have been closed to avoid crowds gathering. Local authorities, national park authorities and Natural Resources Wales have powers to close paths in their areas if their use poses a high risk to the incidence or spread of infection in their areas. While the majority of paths are still open, the Deputy Minister has…

The Welsh Government has announced financial support to assist Cardiff Airport in facing the early impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, while calling on the UK Government to urgently change its policy towards providing further financial help for regional airports. The existing loan arrangement, on commercial terms, between the Welsh Government and Cardiff Airport is worth £28m. The support announced this week is part of the £21.2m agreed in September 2019. Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales Ken Skates announced that the Welsh Government will provide finance to the airport, through varying its existing agreed commercial loan facility, to support…

The number of confirmed new Coronavirus cases have risen by 345 in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,466, a marginal increase on yesterday’s figure. There has also been 24 further deaths of people who had tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of deaths in Wales to 141. The Queen will speak to the nation this Sunday after a further 684 people die with coronavirus in the UK. Buckingham Palace said the message which will be recorded at Windsor Castle, will be broadcast on TV and radio at 20:00 BST. The Department of…

We’re coming to the end of the second week, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s increased restrictions on movement in a bid to try and prevent further spread of COVID-19. For many like us this is now the third week of working from home and has impacted our daily lives greatly. Those key workers who still commute daily will have noticed the drastic changes in our capital city. Fewer commuters on the trains and buses, quieter roads and streets across the capital and sheer number of businesses that remain closed. It’s Friday once again in Cardiff but tonight instead of people…

Our weekly quiz unpicks the headlines from the news – have you been paying close attention to what’s been going on in Wales and the world? Put your knowledge to the test with our newsworthy quiz, which is just for fun of course! Try it at home, share it with your friends and see whose been glued to the news this week. [wp_quiz_pro id=”88181″]

With the recent self-isolation and Lockdown measures being implemented by government in the UK, St David’s Hospice based in North West Wales predicts huge challenges on the horizon. Their frontline clinical staff continue to care for vulnerable patients in Llandudno’s fourteen bed inpatient unit, as well as community services. Due to the closure of charity shops and events cancelled, nearly 90% of the hospice’s income has stopped due to COVID19. The Hospice has come up with a unique fundraising idea to try and engage with families isolating at home, and in turn could see the charity raise significant funds during…

Blood donors across Wales are being asked to ‘donate differently’ to maintain healthy blood stocks for the NHS during the Coronavirus pandemic. In response to the global pandemic, which has put pressure on the blood collections programme across Wales, the Welsh Blood Service is reducing the number of donor collection venues it hosts each week. Reducing the number of venues it operates will enable the Service to safeguard its collections programme against Covid-19 related venue cancellations and staffing pressures. Where typically the Service would host one-day donation sessions at around 30 donation venues across Wales per week, the Service will…

The first food boxes are being delivered to the doorsteps of people who are adopting strict shielding measures to protect themselves from coronavirus. More than 80,000 people across Wales have been asked to undertake shielding measures because they are classed as extremely vulnerable to serious illness if they are exposed to the virus. Everyone in this group has a particular, long-term, pre-existing health condition, which increases their risk to coronavirus. The Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton has written to all of them asking them to take shielding measures – including staying at home for 12 weeks –…

Pembrokeshire holiday firm NetLet is helping the fight against coronavirus by offering free date changes and/or cancelling and refunding all April 2020 bookings of its holiday cottages. The company, which also runs a laundry service and a housekeeping service, is focusing its efforts on ways in which these services can be put to good use in the community. Booking fees for the holiday homes are being refunded minus the £35 booking fee, as this money has already been spent on transaction and booking channel fees. Its work now includes cleaning accommodation in several places in Pembrokeshire, including a holiday park,…

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is working with partners in health and social care to support the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The organisation, which was set up by Welsh Government in 2017, is inviting COVID-19 related research questions, evidence reviews and requests for economics support. Dr Susan Myles, Director of Health Technology Wales, said: “We welcome opportunities to collaborate with peer organisations and we’re already talking to fellow HTA bodies about the ways we can collaborate. As we respond to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, it’s imperative that we share information with decision makers as quickly as possible.”…