News

Covid-19: Pembroke Dock man stranded in Italy ‘indefinitely’

Published

6 years ago

September 22, 2020

Left to right) Quinn, Rhys and Will

A PEMBROKESHIRE man who has been quarantined in Italy for more than a month after testing positive for coronavirus, is still no closer to being able to go home.

Rhys James of Pembroke Dock, who had been teaching English in Italy, has been hauled up in a secure isolation facility by Italian officials since he tested positive for the virus on August 17.

Speaking to The Herald, Rhys told us he originally went to Italy alone on July 5, starting in Milan and working across the north of the country.

Along the way, Rhys, 23 met two fellow Brit’s – who were also on placement, Will Castle, 22 and Quinn Pazesny, 20.

On August 16, both Rhys and Quinn began to display symptoms of the virus and as the trio had been staying together, all three were tested for coronavirus.

All three men provided a positive swab test, despite Will still to this day not having any symptoms.

Rhys told us that they were initially all taken into hospital and told they would be able to return to their flats and isolate together.

All men are travelling to isolation centres together, but must isolate seperately on their arrival

He claimed an hour later, guidance was different and another representative said all three would be taken to a hospital facility where they must isolate separately.

Hospital staff travelled to the men’s dwellings and packed up their belongings and sent them to the facility.

Rhys told us how all of their belongings were mixed up, which he says defeats the object of keeping them all separate.

The trio are currently on their third isolation facility, where they travel together, but then must isolate in separate rooms when they arrive.

Medical advice in the UK, currently says those that test positive for the virus have to quarantine for 10 days, then they are no longer considered infectious and they no longer need to isolate.

This science is backed by The World Health Organisation.

Current regulations in Italy stipulate that you must provide two separate negative Covid-19 swab tests at least 24 hours apart, before you can leave quarantine.

Despite none of the trio displaying any coronavirus symptoms since August 21, they continue to provide positive swab test results, a method that can detect dead cells for months after.

Originally they kept their spirits high by facetiming, but at some locations due to lack of WIFI that isn’t always possible.

Typical meal provided by the facility

With no family to rely on or unable to order food from outside, the men are forced to rely on the hospitality of Italian quarantine centres for their daily meals.

With two out of the three men having food intolerance’s, this has caused them a great deal of discomfort.

Rhys told us that they have been in contact with The British Embassy, who have been able to assist them in their dietary needs and obtaining bigger portions.

The Foreign Office have cited to many media sources that they are in contact with the men, a claim Rhys disputes, saying no contact has been made with them from any representatives for the office.

Speaking on the quarantine, Rhys said: “I do understand why they are being so careful after the way they were hit with coronavirus at the beginning.

“But we are approaching nearly six weeks of isolation now and the only answer they keep giving us to keep us upheld here is that ‘it’s the science’.”

“We have had no update whatsoever, if we had an end date or somebody was doing something to help it would be fine. At the moment we are constantly stressed.”

The men are hauled up indefinitely

Rhys told us how the measure inflicted on them seem as though prison would be a better option for them, he added “At least you can go outside into the yard, we can only open our door slightly to pick up our food and that’s it.”

Rhys’ family have been trying to get into contact with Simon Hart MP for South Pembrokeshire, they have been told that they have been discussing the case, Rhys said.

Rhys told us how they are tested each Monday, all three men tested positive when they were tested on September 14.

They were last tested on Monday (Sept 21), they are still awaiting the results of the swabs.

News

Parties make final push as Wales prepares to vote in historic Senedd election

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Campaign leaders criss-cross country in last-minute battle for crucial votes

WALES heads to the polls tomorrow (Thursday, May 7) after a frenetic final day of campaigning that saw party leaders, candidates and activists make one last push to win over undecided voters in what is being described as the most unpredictable Senedd election in modern Welsh history.

With polling stations due to open at 7:00am, parties spent Wednesday targeting key battleground constituencies across the country, including the new Ceredigion Penfro seat, amid growing expectations of a fragmented Senedd and a dramatic shake-up in Welsh politics.

The election is the first to be held under Wales’ new expanded Senedd system, with 96 Members of the Senedd being elected across 16 large constituencies using a proportional closed-list voting system.

Reform UK appeared to finish the campaign with significant momentum following a major rally on Tuesday attended by party leader Nigel Farage. The event drew large crowds and considerable online attention as Reform attempted to convert strong polling figures into seats in Cardiff Bay for the first time.

Farage used the rally to attack both Labour and Plaid Cymru, while positioning Reform as the party of “change” for disillusioned voters. Reform campaigners have focused heavily on immigration, cost of living pressures and opposition to what they describe as “wasteful government spending.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth spent the final day presenting his party as the main alternative to both Labour and Reform UK, insisting Plaid could “build a fairer Wales” while warning against what he described as “divisive politics.”

Labour figures, including First Minister Eluned Morgan and deputy leader Huw Irranca-Davies, urged voters not to “take risks” with public services, arguing only Welsh Labour could protect the NHS and local councils during a period of economic uncertainty.

Labour activists were heavily focused on turnout operations in traditional strongholds, amid polling suggesting the party could lose ground after decades as the dominant force in Welsh politics.

The Conservatives attempted to rally core voters with warnings about both Labour and Reform, while also focusing on farming, the rural economy and healthcare waiting lists.

In west Wales, Conservative candidates Paul Davies and Sam Kurtz spent the day meeting voters and carrying out final campaign visits across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, arguing their experience and local knowledge would be important under the new electoral system.

The Liberal Democrats and Green Party also maintained visible campaigns in several areas, hoping tactical voting and the proportional voting system could help them secure representation.

Across Wales, campaign teams handed out leaflets outside transport hubs, supermarkets and town centres, while social media campaigning intensified throughout the day.

Political analysts believe turnout could prove decisive, particularly because the new voting system means relatively small shifts in support could determine the allocation of the fifth and sixth seats in many constituencies.

The campaign has been dominated by debates over the NHS, farming, the economy, transport, tourism and the rising cost of living, alongside concerns about the future direction of Welsh devolution.

Polling stations open across Wales from 7:00am until 10:00pm on Thursday, with counting due to begin on Friday morning.

The Herald will provide live election coverage online throughout polling day and count day, including updates from count centres, candidate interviews and reaction as results emerge from across west Wales and the rest of the country.

News

Plaid Cymru projected to lead Senedd as Labour faces historic collapse

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Final poll suggests Welsh politics could be on the brink of a major realignment

PLAID CYMRU is on course to become the largest party in the Senedd, according to the final YouGov MRP projection for ITV Cymru Wales before polling day.

The model suggests Labour’s century-long dominance of Welsh elections could be coming to an end, with Plaid projected to win 43 seats in the newly expanded 96-member Senedd.

Reform UK is forecast to finish second on 34 seats, while Labour is projected to fall to just 12.

The poll, based on responses from more than 4,600 adults between April 25 and May 4, puts Plaid Cymru on 33% of the vote, ahead of Reform UK on 29%. Labour is on 12%, the Conservatives on 9%, the Greens on 8% and the Liberal Democrats on 6%.

Labour facing major losses

The projection points to a dramatic collapse in Labour support across Wales.

YouGov’s central estimate would represent a notional loss of 32 seats for Labour compared with the 2021 result under the new electoral system.

It would also be Labour’s worst result at any major Welsh election since 1906.

The model suggests Labour may fail to top the poll in any of the 16 new Senedd constituencies, and could return no members at all in four of them.

In west Wales, Labour’s support is projected to have fallen into single figures in some areas.

First Minister Eluned Morgan, who leads Labour’s list in Ceredigion Penfro, could also be at risk if the projection proves accurate.

Reform surge

Reform UK is projected to make major gains, rising from just 1% of the vote in 2021 to 29% in the final pre-election model.

The party’s support appears to be spread widely across Wales, though it is weaker in Cardiff and strongest in parts of the south Wales valleys.

One of the most striking projections is in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, which includes the Merthyr Tydfil area where Keir Hardie was elected as Wales’s first Labour MP in 1900.

There, YouGov’s central estimate puts Reform UK narrowly ahead on 34%, Plaid Cymru on 33%, and Labour on 14%.

Smaller parties

The Conservatives are projected to win just four seats, which would be their weakest devolved election result.

That would leave them one short of the five members needed to form an official political group in the Senedd.

The Greens are forecast to enter the Senedd for the first time, winning two seats in Cardiff.

The Liberal Democrats are projected to win one seat in Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, keeping Jane Dodds in the Senedd.

No majority expected

No party is projected to win the 49 seats needed for an outright majority.

YouGov’s modelling suggests Plaid Cymru would be best placed to lead the next Welsh Government, but would probably need support from another party.

Plaid and Labour together reach a majority in most of the model’s simulations, while a Plaid-Green arrangement does so far less often.

A Reform-Conservative majority appears unlikely in the projection.

Under the new D’Hondt voting system, small movements in vote share could still make a significant difference, particularly for the final seats in each constituency.

Polling stations open tomorrow, Thursday, May 7.