Breaking News

Coronavirus live news: Wales sets out reopening plans; Brazil again records more than 2,000 deaths | World news














Some semblance of normal life will begin again in Wales from Saturday, with the country’s first minister, Mark Drayford, expected to announce a change from the current “stay home” restrictions to more lenient “stay local” requirements.

Drakeford is expected to say: “We are taking a phased approach to unlocking each sector – starting with schools. We will make step-by-step changes each week to gradually restore freedoms. We will monitor each change we make, so we know what impact each change has had on Wales’ public health situation.”

From Saturday, four people from two households will be able to meet outdoors to socialise, including in gardens; outdoor sports facilities – including basketball courts, tennis courts and golf courses – can reopen; and indoor care home visits will restart for single designated visitors. The relaxation of rules will allow people from rural areas to travel greater distances than those who live in urban towns and cities.

Hairdressers and barbers can reopen for appointments from Monday, the same day that all primary school pupils and those in qualifications years can return to schools.

Non-essential retail, which was considered for reopening from next week, will start to reopen gradually from 22 March, while restrictions will be lifted on what can be sold in shops that are currently open. All shops, including all close-contact services, will be able to open from 12 April, the same date as in England.

A Covid-19 warning sign in Cardiff. From Saturday, four people from two households will be able to meet outdoors, outdoor sports facilities can reopen, and indoor care home visits will restart for single designated visitors. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Image

A Covid-19 warning sign in Cardiff. From Saturday, four people from two households will be able to meet outdoors, outdoor sports facilities can reopen, and indoor care home visits will restart for single designated visitors. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Image Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images












A British government fund established to prop up the arts and heritage sectors during the coronavirus pandemic has handed over little more than half of the money it has allocated.

The National Audit Office, which audits spending by UK state agencies, said the culture recovery fund had budgeted for £830m in grants and loans funding so far, but only £495m had been paid out.

MPs have responded angrily to the findings, urging the government to hand over the cash while “there are still organisations left to support”.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) announced the £1.57bn fund to help the cultural, arts and heritage institutions survive the pandemic last summer.

It has supported about 3,000 arts organisations in England so far, including venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Southbank Centre in London, and M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

The Royal Albert Hall is among 3,000 organisations in England that have received money so far. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

The Royal Albert Hall is among 3,000 organisations in England that have received money so far. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters












Welsh government outlines reopening plans

Updated





Updated









Good morning from London. This is Ben Quinn picking up the liveblog now on a morning when people in the UK are waking up to the news that the economy here contracted by 2.9% in January amid lockdown measures.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the British economy is 9% smaller than it was before the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

My colleague Graeme Wearden is covering that – as well as other business and economic developments – on our Business Live blog.

In other moving developments, Welsh authorities are expected to announced today that Wales will move to a “stay local” requirement for at least the next three weeks as the country eases some of its coronavirus restrictions.

In Scotland, a grim milestone has also been reached. The toll of lives lost north of the border with a link to the virus has reached more than 9,000 since the first death of coronavirus patient in Scotland was confirmed a year ago.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, is visiting Northern Ireland meanwhile and the ONS publishes its weekly figures on coronavirus and social impacts. There will also be the weekly Covid-19 infection survey is released by the ONS at noon.

You can flag up any news stories around the world you think we should be reporting on by emailing me or contacting me on twitter at @BenQuinn75.

You’ll find coverage of those stories as well as others and continuing global coverage here.

Updated



Shared From Source link Breaking News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *