UPDATED DAILY : UK CORONAVIRUS - UPDATED 29/10/22

Merthyr Tydfil Covid cases shoot from 10 to 179 per 100,000, overtaking Leicester

Parts of Wales have overtaken Leicester for rates of Covid, analysis shows.

Official statistics show that Merthyr Tydfil has recorded 179 cases per 100,000, compared with 141 per 100,000 in Leicester.

Cases in the Welsh borough have soared in the last week, up from 10 cases per 100,000.

However, health chiefs in Wales have said there is no evidence that the infections - linked to an outbreak at a meat plant - have spread to the community.

Merthyr Tydfil Covid cases shoot from 10 to 179 per 100,000, overtaking Leicester

Parts of Wales have overtaken Leicester for rates of Covid, analysis shows.

Official statistics show that Merthyr Tydfil has recorded 179 cases per 100,000, compared with 141 per 100,000 in Leicester.

Cases in the Welsh borough have soared in the last week, up from 10 cases per 100,000.

However, health chiefs in Wales have said there is no evidence that the infections - linked to an outbreak at a meat plant - have spread to the community.

If not careful drakeford will be saying cannot do anything because rate as gone up and is worse than Leicester!

Thank feck it's Merthyr. I mean who is going to go there ?

Thank feck it's Merthyr. I mean who is going to go there ?

Didn't you know it's the place to live (-true)

Merthyr again stands out as the area that has seen the biggest increase in infection rates.

After that, Knowsley, Bolton and then Hammersmith and Fulham have seen the largest rises in infection rates, but these areas still saw fewer than 25 infections per 100,000 people in the week to 28 June.

Leicester's infection rate has stayed stubbornly high across the last two weeks.

The biggest falls are areas in Wales that, like Merthyr, have seen outbreaks in food-processing plants in recent weeks.

After Wrexham and Anglesey, the places with the next largest falls include Barnsley, Rochdale and Bradford, part of that dark blue clump in northern England.
On the face of the numbers, Merthyr looks like the most infectious part of the UK. It saw the highest rate of infections in the last week of data and the biggest rise.

But government officials are more worried about Leicester.

We know what caused the spike in Merthyr Tydfil: an outbreak in a food-processing plant.

Here’s a recap on the main developments in Wales today:

For the first time since March, there were no new deaths to report of people in Wales with coronavirus, Public Health Wales said, leaving the official total at 1,531

Families and friends are able to reunite and enjoy outdoor attractions as travel restrictions are lifted in Wales

People are also allowed to meet indoors and stay overnight with one other household from today

FM set out what he called the "key dates" for week ahead:

On Thursday, review of the regulations "as we are required to by law"

On Saturday, if the conditions are right, self-contained accommodation will reopen

On Monday, if the conditions are right, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will be able to open outdoors and hairdressers will open by appointment

Should face masks be worn in public?

The Welsh government is “continuing to look” at the evidence as to whether face coverings should be made mandatory in public places in Wales, Mr Gething says.

The head of the UK's national academy of science has suggested everyone should wear a face covering in crowded public spaces.

The Welsh government has recommended people wear three-layer face coverings on public transport and other situations where social distancing is not possible.

Mr Gething says he will look at evidence from SAGE and speak to Wales’ chief medical officer about whether to change existing guidance.

“At this point we are continuing to look at the evidence and today's comments are part of what we’ll need to consider doing as we help to keep Wales safe now and in the future,” he added.

Really ??? Should have had this in place weeks ago in some factories - Never mind Joe Public - we kept within 5 miles !!

Should face masks be worn in public?

The Welsh government is “continuing to look” at the evidence as to whether face coverings should be made mandatory in public places in Wales, Mr Gething says.

The head of the UK's national academy of science has suggested everyone should wear a face covering in crowded public spaces.

The Welsh government has recommended people wear three-layer face coverings on public transport and other situations where social distancing is not possible.

Mr Gething says he will look at evidence from SAGE and speak to Wales’ chief medical officer about whether to change existing guidance.

“At this point we are continuing to look at the evidence and today's comments are part of what we’ll need to consider doing as we help to keep Wales safe now and in the future,” he added.

Really ??? Should have had this in place weeks ago in some factories - Never mind Joe Public - we kept within 5 miles !!

drakeford ideology is unravelling more and more business organisations are questioning his let's do nothing approach! The ineos decision is being blamed partly on drakefords scrapping m4 relief rd (from ineos) but boris as stepped into the row by saying uk gvmnt will unblock the brynglas tunnels and build relief rd? Knowing drakeford this was his master plan stop it and wait for uk gvmnt to pay for it..

Coronavirus: '£500m extra for Welsh Government' from chancellor

The Welsh Government will get an extra £500m as a result of the chancellor's summer statement, the UK government has said.

Rishi Sunak announced measures to help hospitality, tourism and young people in the Commons on Wednesday.

Measures include cuts to VAT and discounts for eating out.

The UK government says it has provided Welsh ministers, who run many of Wales' public services including the NHS, with a total of £2.8bn during the pandemic.

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said it is "now absolutely essential that Wales' world-class tourism and hospitality industry can properly open for business".

In the statement the chancellor announced a 50% discount for diners, and a VAT cut for hospitality and tourism from 20% to 5%.

Both measures will apply in Wales, as will a £2bn scheme to create more jobs for young people.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he was "sorry" his summer statement announcements in the wake of the coronavirus crisis would not help "everyone in exactly the way they would have wanted"

The boss of HM Revenue and Customs said two of the schemes Mr Sunak announced may not be value for money for taxpayers

Two of the UK's biggest High Street retailers, John Lewis and Boots, have announced 5,300 job cuts as sales fell dramatically during lockdown

People in Scotland will be able to visit other households indoors and stay overnight

The Welsh government confirmed all pupils will go back to school in September

Two reports charting coronavirus cases in England show the number of people in the community with the disease is falling

Nail parlours indoor gyms swimming pools can open but of course not in wales! until drakeford comes out of hibernation...

Glad I got my own nail clippers or else I'll be looking like Fu Manchu

Glad I got my own nail clippers or else I'll be looking like Fu Manchu

Dont forget your nail file?

Nail parlours indoor gyms swimming pools can open but of course not in wales! until drakeford comes out of hibernation...

I was waiting to see what came out today from the FM - Moving forward slowly but with no guaranties / guidelines -

Pubs, cafés and restaurants in Wales will be able to open indoors from 3 August, providing cases of coronavirus continue to fall, First Minister Mark Drakeford said today.

Playgrounds and community centres will reopen from 20 July
Campsites with shared facilities on 25 July
Cinemas, museums and galleries as well as beauty and tattoo parlours will be able to open on 27 July
House viewings with owners present would also be possible from 27 July
Pubs, cafes and restaurants can open outdoor areas from this Monday, 13 July, as can hairdressers and barbers
Outdoor sports, including team sports, can also resume on 13 July – allowing up to 30 people to take part.

is 3 wks enough time for pubs to make money No it wont be.... so whilst some people will be happy tbh dont think it will save jobs one bit... think people are forgetting furlough is winding down so people have to go to work or be made redundant or sacked if use corvid as reason not to work! schools back as well will mean no holiday makers, let's just hope things stay same ir none if things mentioned will open.

is 3 wks enough time for pubs to make money No it wont be.... so whilst some people will be happy tbh dont think it will save jobs one bit... think people are forgetting furlough is winding down so people have to go to work or be made redundant or sacked if use corvid as reason not to work! schools back as well will mean no holiday makers, let's just hope things stay same ir none if things mentioned will open.

That is the problem mate - Already The Celtic Manor over 400 jobs gone - Brains not opening most of their pubs .
Earlier this week John Lewis and Boots 5,300 jobs gone - I've lost count how many in the Travel business have gone .
Restaurants - Bars - Clubs can't open because of space / rules /indoors etc... This all has a knock on effect .
The furlough will end in October - Sadly it's going to be a long cold winter for some mate

is 3 wks enough time for pubs to make money No it wont be.... so whilst some people will be happy tbh dont think it will save jobs one bit... think people are forgetting furlough is winding down so people have to go to work or be made redundant or sacked if use corvid as reason not to work! schools back as well will mean no holiday makers, let's just hope things stay same ir none if things mentioned will open.

That is the problem mate - Already The Celtic Manor over 400 jobs gone - Brains not opening most of their pubs .
Earlier this week John Lewis and Boots 5,300 jobs gone - I've lost count how many in the Travel business have gone .
Restaurants - Bars - Clubs can't open because of space / rules /indoors etc... This all has a knock on effect .
The furlough will end in October - Sadly it's going to be a long cold winter for some mate

Tony the idiot is so obsessed with going slowly step by step he doesn't know what businesses are saying? Today he is saying to people Welsh pubs restaurants and cafes are open for people to come on holiday! Trouble is even when people are allowed inside (August) lots of establishments said wont be opening due to the plonker not reducing social distancing rules so unviable to open..... saying he's so out of touch is an understatement.,

Britain records 148 Covid deaths in last 24 hours - more than double last Saturday's total - three weeks after shops were allowed to reopen in first major easing of lockdown

Coronavirus: Reopening Wales 'absolutely safe' says FM -

The first minister has said Wales is "absolutely safe" to visit again after he defended not opening tourism sooner.

In Wales, only self contained accommodation, with no shared facilities, such as kitchens and bathrooms, are currently able to open.

From Monday, Welsh pubs and restaurants with outdoor spaces, will be able to welcome back customers outdoors for the first time.
But many businesses have said they will not be opening, saying it will not be viable due to the two-metre (6ft) social distancing rule, which remains in place in Wales.

Mr Drakeford said he was "looking forward" to going on holiday to Pembrokeshire when he had a chance, and people could help keep others safe by avoiding crowded areas.

- Give him a warm welcome Allan - If there is anything still open

Coronavirus: Reopening Wales 'absolutely safe' says FM -

The first minister has said Wales is "absolutely safe" to visit again after he defended not opening tourism sooner.

In Wales, only self contained accommodation, with no shared facilities, such as kitchens and bathrooms, are currently able to open.

From Monday, Welsh pubs and restaurants with outdoor spaces, will be able to welcome back customers outdoors for the first time.
But many businesses have said they will not be opening, saying it will not be viable due to the two-metre (6ft) social distancing rule, which remains in place in Wales.

Mr Drakeford said he was "looking forward" to going on holiday to Pembrokeshire when he had a chance, and people could help keep others safe by avoiding crowded areas.

- Give him a warm welcome Allan - If there is anything still open

Tony I'm surprised hes got the nerve to come here he is the most unpopular man in pembrokeshire! (was local AM) He still wants to close our A&E dept and move it 15 to 25 miles away !! Leaving thousands of people no way of accessing it .. if I saw him I would certainly give him a mouthful

Britain records 148 Covid deaths in last 24 hours - more than double last Saturday's total - three weeks after shops were allowed to reopen in first major easing of lockdown

Someone as turned light bulb on as its busier here than on a normal summer day steady stream of cars and yet yesterday was quiet, newgale camp site never seen so many campervans previously

Good to hear in a way that it's busy down there for the local business Allan .

With a bit of luck people will be booking up and all places are taken up

Which will leave our FM looking - But i bet he has a 2nd and 3rd home down there

Good to hear in a way that it's busy down there for the local business Allan .

With a bit of luck people will be booking up and all places are taken up

Which will leave our FM looking - But i bet he has a 2nd and 3rd home down there

People just desperate to have change scenery can tell that by the amount of motor homes! Never seen so many in newgale in the 18+yes been in pembs ..... or amount of water boards in the sea! (tide in so no surfers) only downside is takes me 10mins longer to get to town so much extra traffic, as for drakeford he either as 2nd home or his house is here as was local Am before his head was to big for pembs...

"MEMO" to drakeford! When seeking advice from his so called advisors dont forget to tell them it rains in wales when he gets a bright idea of opening just outside space....
His ingenious plan to open wales up for tourism by opening things outside as failed as miserably as the weather.... pub gardens are full of empty seats and the motorhomes have gone so no beer being drunk today...

Monday 13th July Total Uk Deaths: 44,819

"MEMO" to drakeford! When seeking advice from his so called advisors dont forget to tell them it rains in wales when he gets a bright idea of opening just outside space....
His ingenious plan to open wales up for tourism by opening things outside as failed as miserably as the weather.... pub gardens are full of empty seats and the motorhomes have gone so no beer being drunk today...

He's a clown, no doubt, but is un-elected, doesn't have any fiscal responsibilities, and in the eyes of the Welsh media is safe from criticism. On a national level sadly I think we're going to have a terrible few years ahead of us. The queues outside non-essential stores in England on the 1st day of opening almost vanished by the next day. Now it looks as if you'll have to wear a muzzle to shop. Sunak and BJ are going to have a series of dreadful shocks as the figures continue to come out re. the economy. Drakeford though, isn't bothered in the slightest..

"MEMO" to drakeford! When seeking advice from his so called advisors dont forget to tell them it rains in wales when he gets a bright idea of opening just outside space....
His ingenious plan to open wales up for tourism by opening things outside as failed as miserably as the weather.... pub gardens are full of empty seats and the motorhomes have gone so no beer being drunk today...

He's a clown, no doubt, but is un-elected, doesn't have any fiscal responsibilities, and in the eyes of the Welsh media is safe from criticism. On a national level sadly I think we're going to have a terrible few years ahead of us. The queues outside non-essential stores in England on the 1st day of opening almost vanished by the next day. Now it looks as if you'll have to wear a muzzle to shop. Sunak and BJ are going to have a series of dreadful shocks as the figures continue to come out re. the economy. Drakeford though, isn't bothered in the slightest..

Of course hes not bothered he knows Westminster will pick up the unemployment tab! Same way hes not bothered about hospital services in this own county why should he when gets private care ... all he cares about is his image and how well he kept corvid deaths down regardless of human cost in jobs ect..

Just drove passed about 60 people crammed into a pub car park drinking.

No social distancing.

Just drove passed about 60 people crammed into a pub car park drinking.

No social distancing.

Was it raining like here?