Coronavirus

This page has been designed to provide up-to-date information, guidance and advice with regards to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you need medical help, please use the 111 online coronavirus service.

Please click here for the UK Government's stay at home advice and here for more general information.

This is an uncertain time and the overriding aim is to save lives and minimise suffering – and governments are being led by the best scientific advice.

Fighting this virus will require a huge national effort and joined up approach from both the UK and Welsh Governments. We must do all we can to save lives, protect the NHS and keep the most vulnerable people in our society safe.

Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel. This advice is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions.

The Conservative Government is at the forefront of the effort to back business, to back our economy and to make sure that we get through this. Yesterday the Chancellor announced an unprecedented package of government-backed loans and guarantees to support business.

Individuals and families

Health

Read the latest information about COVID-19 from Public Health Wales.

See the latest advice from NHS Direct Wales and use the Coronavirus COVID-19 Symptom Checker.

Staying at home and shielding

Read the Welsh Government’s guidance on staying at home and away from others for people in Wales.

Read stay-at-home guidance for households with possible coronavirus.

Also read guidance on shielding and protecting people defined as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.

Testing in Wales

Read details about the Welsh Government’s approach to testing for COVID-19 in Wales.

Coronavirus and the law in Wales

Read information about how the law is being applied to tackle COVID-19 and where coronavirus laws are different in Wales.

Guidance for employees

Read all the latest guidance for employees including details about staying at home, Statutory Sick Pay and Universal Credit.

Also check if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to cover 80% of your regular wage, up to a monthly cap of £2,500.

Sickness and disability benefits

Face-to-face assessments for all sickness and disability benefits will be temporarily suspended for the next 3 months from Tuesday 17 March.

No further action is required by any claimant as a result of this change. They will be contacted with advice on next steps.

Travel

Find out all the latest travel advice and sign up for travel alerts via the Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) website.

Education

Find the latest information on schools and educational settings via the Welsh Government website.

Housing

The UK Government has agreed with mortgage lenders that they will offer repayment holidays of 3 months to households in financial difficulty due to COVID-19. Customers who are concerned about their current financial situation should contact their lender at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss if this is a suitable option for them.

The Welsh Government has agreed that measures developed by the UK Government to suspend evictions from social or private rented accommodation will apply to Welsh tenants. The three month mortgage payment holiday will also be extended to Buy to Let mortgages to protect landlords.

Community support

The Welsh Government has launched its Looking Out for Each Other campaign about how to help people who are staying at home because of coronavirus. Find out more via the gov.wales/safehelp online hub.
Find out more about volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic via the Welsh Government’s website.
Read advice about looking after your mental wellbeing.
Read about support for victims of domestic abuse.
Find out how to protect yourself from fraud and scams during the COVID-19 pandemic via Action Fraud.

Businesses

General guidance for employers

The UK Government has published extensive guidance for employers of all sizes and types, including details on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and what to do if someone is suspected or confirmed to have the virus.

Find coronavirus financial support for your business

Use the business support finder to see what support is available for you and your business.

UK Government support for businesses

The UK Government has set out a package of measures to protect public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19.

All businesses in Wales could benefit from the following schemes and announcements:

Businesses will receive government grants worth up to 80% of wages to keep workers in jobs. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will pay up to £2,500 per worker each month, helping those who are self-isolating or caring for loved ones.
Support for businesses through deferring VAT and Income Tax payments.
Support for businesses paying tax.

Support for the self-employed:

Millions of people across the UK could benefit from the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, with those eligible receiving a cash grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profit.
The Self- Assessment payment on account, that is ordinarily due to be paid to HMRC by 31 July 2020 may now be deferred until January 2021.

Support for small and medium sized businesses:

Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme via the British Business Bank. The scheme will deliver loans of up to £5 million for eligible businesses and is interest free for 12 months.
The Bounce Back Loan scheme will help small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000. The UK Government will guarantee 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months.
Support for businesses who are paying sick pay to employees.

Support for larger businesses:

The new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) will provide a government guarantee of 80% to enable banks to make loans of up to £25m to firms with an annual turnover of between £45m and £500m.
The Bank of England COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility is designed to support liquidity among larger firms, helping them to bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through the purchase of short-term debt in the form of commercial paper.