Latest Virus updates

Latest Virus updates
• The Welsh Government has announced a £200m package of support for businesses to help them pay their rates bills. Full details of the announcement are available at: https://gov.wales/emergency-support-businesses-hit-coronavirus
• First Minister Mark Drakeford has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling for an “unprecedented way to enable businesses who are threatened with imminent bankruptcy” as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. A copy of the letter is available @fmwales
• First Minister’s Questions this afternoon were dominated by questions about coronavirus. The First Minister made an oral statement about the health response to coronavirus and there were statements from Economy Minister Ken Skates and Minister for Housing and Local Government Julie James about economic and business support and civil contingencies, respectively. These statements are available via the Senedd’s record of proceedings at https://record.assembly.wales/search

• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has published a personal video explaining why he is self-isolating. He will continue to work at home over the coming 14 days. His video is available on the @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.
• Minister for Housing and Local Government and Councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) held a joint press conference this morning (Tuesday) about the Welsh Government/local government response to the coronavirus outbreak. Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton will hold the press briefing on Wednesday morning.
1
• The National Museum for Wales, National Library, Wales Millennium Centre and Cadw sites with staffed visitor centres have been closed to the public
• The First Minister will be meeting the WLGA and WCVA on Wednesday to discuss how vulnerable people who are asked to stay at home to protect themselves from coronavirus can be supported.
• A second death of a person with coronavirus was confirmed by Chief Medical Officer Dr Frank Atherton this afternoon. The 96-year-old had underlying health conditions and was being treated at Morriston Hospital, in Swansea.

Latest advice
We have strengthened our advice to people about coronavirus as the latest evidence shows cases are increasing. This means we need to introduce further measures to slow down the spread of the virus and protect those people who are at greatest risk:
• You should stay at home for 14 days if you – or anyone – in your household, has either a high temperature or a new and continuous cough
• Avoid non-essential contact with others and unnecessary travel. Work from home if you can and avoid social settings.
• This advice is really important for people who are over 70; have a long-term condition; are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. For most people coronavirus will be a mild illness, but these are the groups of people who are at greater risk of developing a more serious illness.
• We will be asking people who are most at risk to take further steps to protect themselves in the coming days. We will make further announcements.
• More information is available at https://gov.wales/what-do-if-someone-your-household-has-symptoms-coronavirus and https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/

Where to find the latest information
• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://phw.nhs.wales/news/public-health-wales-statement-on-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• The Welsh Government will be holding a daily media briefing at 9.30am about coronavirus. These are on-the-record and on-camera. They are live-streamed on our @welshgovernment Twitter channel.