News
At least three more weeks of lockdown, First Minister confirms
FIRST MINISTER Mark Drakeford said he hopes the country has entered the last three weeks of the “stay-at-home” requirement.
Mr Drakeford said any lockdown change depends on case rates falling and it was too soon to say if people will be able to travel beyond their local area.
He also said he hoped primary school children aged eight and over may be able to return to school from 15 March if Covid cases continued to fall. From Saturday (Feb 20) the number of people who can exercise together outdoors will be increased from two to four, although they must be from a maximum of two households.
Exercise must still start and finish at home. From Monday (Mar 1), licensed wedding venues will be able to reopen, in line with current rules for register offices.
Also more elite sport athletes will be able to return to training, and more visits to care homes will be considered Mr Drakeford said: “If in three weeks’ time the numbers are still falling, the positivity rate is falling, the R number’s below one, hospital pressures continue to reduce, then I hope we’ll be able to move beyond ‘stay at home’.”
He said it was “too uncertain” to say how far restrictions on movement might be eased, but he suggested a “stay local” arrangement, similar to local lockdowns which were imposed in the autumn, was a possibility.
While Wales’ case rate is at its lowest since September, the government said tight restrictions were still needed to ensure a safe return to school. The Conservatives called for a “road map to recovery” and for “rough timescales” for reopening some of the hardest-hit sectors.
Talks are taking place about reopening tourism in time for Easter, with bed and breakfasts and hotels with room service likely to be prioritised.
Talks will also begin with non-essential shops about the prospects of reopening.
Mr Drakeford warned there would not be a “wholesale” reopening of shops. Responding to the latest review of Coronavirus regulations by the Welsh Government, Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation said: “It is clear that we need to lift restrictions slowly and carefully.
While we all want to see an end to restrictions, the NHS in Wales is still coming under high levels of pressure. We need the capacity to be able to look after you and your families and get the Welsh population vaccinated as quickly as we can.
“The NHS in Wales recognises how important it is to get children and students back to school, but this needs to be done cautiously to ensure we don’t see an impact on infection rates.
“We continue to see positive signs that Coronavirus rates are falling in Wales, and we are starting to see a reduction in the number of patients in hospital with Covid. “As more of the most vulnerable groups receive their vaccinations, we can start to look towards a brighter future.
“We’re grateful to our frontline staff, our partners in the public sector and the Welsh public, who have all worked so hard to drive down the rate of infection. We know the restrictions are hard for people and we continue to encourage anyone to come forward for help if you need it, whether that be for your physical or mental health.”
Regarding schools, children aged between three and seven – those in the foundation phase – are returning to school from Monday.
The next review will look at all primary pupils, and some older students preparing for exams, returning to schools and colleges from 15 March. That includes years 11 and 13, and students doing similar qualifications in college, returning in a safe and ‘flexible’ way.
Reacting to news that the Welsh government will consider non-essential retail in a review on 11 March, James Barnes, Chairman of the HTA, said: “With the busiest season for horticultural businesses about to start, the First Minister’s statement today leaves us with very little room for manoeuvre and anxious to see garden centres opened on 11 March.
“Our members – growers and retailers alike – need certainty around opening dates and the key trading occasion of Mother’s Day will be even more important after such a difficult period which will now include closure on St David’s Day.
“We recognise the part we have to play in seeing this pandemic brought under control and have revisited our Safer Trading Guidance so that garden centres, which naturally lend themselves to Covid-secure trading with open and airy spaces, continue to provide one of the safest retail environments.
“Plants and gardening contribute to health and wellbeing and provide activities which have helped people safeguard their wellbeing and kept them occupied at home during lockdown. We call on the Welsh government to recognise the valuable contribution horticulture has to make as the country begins the process of recovering from the pandemic, by enabling garden centres to trade again as soon as possible.”
Responding to the announcement by the Welsh Government, Dr David Bailey, BMA Cymru Wales council chair said: “We welcome the Welsh Government’s continued cautious approach to easing restrictions. Whilst there are hugely encouraging signs that we’re successfully tackling the virus with lower case rates and with the progress made on the vaccine roll out, we must continue to move slowly and be vigilant particularly with the threat of new variants.
“If we can contain the spread of new variants now there is less opportunity for them to create a new wave of cases which may also make the current vaccine less effective.
“Ultimately, we want to see more people vaccinated to protect our most vulnerable and reduce the pressure on the NHS before we can move forward to ensure there is capacity to treat severe COVID-19 infections, as well as successfully and safely providing non-COVID care to all those who need it.
“Alongside this we need to ensure rapid roll-out of the second dose of the vaccine for all healthcare workers to ensure maximum protection for staff and patients”
COUNCIL LEADER’S UPDATE
Pembrokeshire County Council Leader, Councillor David Simpson, has provided a further coronavirus update
He said: ‘Like me I’m sure you are finding time is marching on at such a rate that it is almost hard to believe we are now entering the last week of February.
‘I have really noticed that the days are drawing out which is always a sign that spring is on its way. Spring time brings us all hope that better days are ahead, it has been a very long year with so many restrictions in our daily lives.
‘However, we have all worked hard together and we need to continue in the same direction.
Council Leader, David Simpson:
‘It is pleasing to see so many people now receiving the vaccine and the rate of vaccination in Pembrokeshire continues to highlight the huge effort put in by everyone.
‘As of Wednesday 33,828 vaccinations have been carried out in Pembrokeshire. That is 26.9% of the population. We are getting there steadily.
‘Today (Friday) we have had an update from the First Minister in relation to the restrictions and the current situation in relation to the pandemic.
‘As set out by the First Minister it is clear that although we are seeing an improvement there is still a long way to go and we all need to continue to keep safe.
‘As an authority we will now be reviewing the latest Welsh Government guidance and I will update you next week on our position.
‘Next week we will also see our schools reopening to Foundation Phase learners. Our education team will be reviewing and keeping a close eye on how the phased re-opening goes and reviewing any further guidance from the Welsh Government.
‘The best place to find details about what will be happening at your child/children’s school will be on their school website and social media.
‘With the vaccinations continuing and the first learners going back to school things are improving, but we still need to follow the guidance and keep driving infections down.
‘I want to wish you all a nice weekend, soon it will be time to start working on the gardens and enjoy seeing flowers and trees bloom – better days are ahead.
FISHGUARD will once again play host to the Wales Triathlon this summer, with hundreds of competitors set to descend on the town for the popular sporting event on Sunday, June 15.
Organised by Activity Wales Events, the triathlon includes a two-lap sea swim in Fishguard Bay, followed by a two-lap cycle from Fishguard to St Davids and a four-lap run along the Marine Walk and out onto the breakwater.
In order to facilitate the bike leg on closed roads, several road closures will be in place throughout the day.
Major road closures
The A487 between Goodwick and Mathry will be closed between 9:45am and 3:00pm.
Between Mathry and Croesgoch, the A487 will be closed from 10:00am to 3:00pm, and from Croesgoch to St Davids the closure will run from 10:00am until 2:45pm.
Crossing points will be in operation at Mathry crossroads, Croesgoch crossroads, and the Llangoffan to Granston junction. Diversions will be signposted, with local traffic routed via minor B roads and through Haverfordwest for longer journeys.
Town centre impact
In Fishguard, West Street will be closed between 12:00pm and 6:00pm for the running stage. Residents will still be able to exit side roads, with diversions clearly marked.
Goodwick residents will be able to exit the town via the Tesco roundabout, which will remain open all day.
Care access and course passes
Care workers will be allowed access to visit clients within the closed sections, but must obtain a course pass via their organisation in advance.
On the day, carers using the route must:
- Follow the direction of the race
- Display their pass clearly
- Keep hazard lights on at all times
- Exit the route as soon as safely possible
Further information
The event attracted over 1,000 athletes last year, and organisers anticipate another strong turnout.
More information can be found at: www.walestriathlon.com/athletes/event-info
Road closure details are available at: community.walestriathlon.com
For course pass enquiries, contact: info@activitywalesevents.com
WONDERWOOL WALES 2025, the premier wool and natural fibre festival in Wales, is on course to be a record-breaker with advance ticket sales ahead of previous years.
The popular, award-winning show will be held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on April 26 and 27 with 220 exhibitors and is expecting more than 6,000 visitors.
A star attraction will be special installation to mark this year’s 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, which is being created by a group of knitters in France and across the world.
The knitters are so enthusiastic that the installation, which will be in Hall 3, is going to be much bigger than originally envisaged.
“It has grown from eight to 10 metres and could well be even larger by the time of the show!” said Chrissie Menzies, Wonderwool Wales director. “People from around the world are knitting panels for the installation which is quite amazing.
They previously knitted an 80 metre, 3D wool art depiction of the D-Day landings, which toured the UK, before going off to America, and wanted to do another one for VE Day to showcase at Wonderwool Wales before it tours the UK, with panels being added at each destination.”
The VE Day project has been organised by Tansy Forster and her fellow knitters who also headed The Longest Yarn installation for D-Day. More than 1,000 knitters from across the world contributed to that project.
Wonderwool Wales will have a truly international flavour, as Kimberly Perkins from Cat Mountain Fibre Arts, Colorado, will be showcasing her hand dyed, multi-textured, yarn bundles and knitting and crochet patterns on stand M1 in Hall 1. She’s the first exhibitor to fly in from America.
Chrissie revealed that there will be more than 15 new exhibitors at the show, including Paint-Box Threads from near Leominster and Cold Harbour Mill from Devon.
Zoe Acketts, of Paint-Box Threads, specialises in beautiful, hand-dyed threads along with fabric for the textile crafting market.
“I’m sure we will all be coming away with some of Zoe’s threads,” said Chrissie. “Her curated boxes of colours are just too good to use, you just want to display them in your studio and look at them!”
Cold Harbour Mill will be joining other working mill exhibitors who use heritage machinery to produce yarn collections and woven textiles.
The company’s yarns are 100% British wool, with single breed Blue Faced Leicester and Shetland collections in a range of natural and woodland inspired colours and four registered Tartans designed and woven at the mill.
Away from the show, Newtown Textile Museum is opening early to attract people visiting Wonderwool. Run entirely by volunteers and housed in two weavers’ cottages, the museum will be open from April 24-28 from 12 noon to 4pm.
The British Coloured Sheep Breeders’ Association will be adding natural colours to the show by bringing sheep for the first time. Sheep Walk fashion shows, demonstrations and have-a-go sessions hosted by some of the exhibitors are regular features.
Wonderwool Wales covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process.
Exhibits of sheep, raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes and books can be found alongside superb examples of finished textile art, craft, clothing and home furnishings.
REQUIEM MASSES TO BE HELD ACROSS WALES
POPE FRANCIS, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in global religious life, died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that he passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis was elected pope in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
He was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. His papacy was marked by a focus on humility, social justice, and outreach to marginalised communities. He was known for his efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, address the clerical sexual abuse crisis, and promote interfaith dialogue.
In recent months, Pope Francis faced health challenges, including a hospitalisation in February 2025 for bronchitis and pneumonia. Despite his illness, he made a final public appearance on Easter Sunday, delivering a blessing from a wheelchair in St. Peter’s Square.
In Wales, Catholic communities are mourning his passing.
Churches across the country are holding Requiem Masses in his honour.
St David’s Cathedral in Cardiff has scheduled special services, inviting the faithful to pray for the repose of the Pope’s soul. Similarly, parishes in Wrexham and Menevia dioceses are organising memorial liturgies.
Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff stated, “Pope Francis was a shepherd to us all, embodying humility and compassion. His commitment to social justice and care for the marginalised resonated deeply within our communities.”
First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that I have learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis this morning.
“As First Minister of Wales, and as a Christian, I offer my deepest condolences to the Catholic community in Wales and around the world.
“Pope Francis led with unwavering humility, courage and profound compassion. Throughout his papacy, he was a tireless advocate for the poor, the marginalised and the displaced. He reminded us all that the fight against poverty, climate change and injustice is not just a political or social task, but a moral calling. His message was clear: every person, regardless of background, race, or sexuality, deserves dignity, respect and love.
“His famous call to ‘not judge, but walk with’ exemplified a faith rooted in love, empathy and understanding for all people, focusing on compassion rather than condemnation.
“In his final months, he spoke with moral clarity, condemning what he referred to as the ‘genocide’ in Gaza, urging the world to recognise the humanity of all people and to choose peace over destruction.
“In a world that often feels divided, Pope Francis built bridges of unity and his legacy will endure in the lives he touched and the values he championed – values that continue to inspire us here in Wales.
“On behalf of the Welsh Government, I offer our deepest sympathies to all those mourning his loss. May he rest in peace, and may his example continue to guide and inspire us all.”
Global leaders have expressed condolences, highlighting Pope Francis’s commitment to compassion, peace, and interfaith dialogue. French President Emmanuel Macron described him as “a man of humility, on the side of the most vulnerable and most fragile,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered him as “a symbol of compassion and spiritual courage.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, stated: “The death of Pope Francis brings great sadness to so many around the world, both within the Catholic Church and in societies in general. A voice proclaiming the innate dignity of every human being, especially those who are poor or marginalised, is now silent.”
King Charles III, as the head of the Church of England, issued a personal statement: “His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others.”
Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, reflected on Pope Francis’s ecumenical efforts: “Francis’s whole life and ministry was centred on Jesus who comes among us not to be served, but to serve. We saw that compellingly in Francis’s service of the poor, his love of neighbour especially the displaced, migrant, the asylum seeker, his deep compassion for the well-being of the earth and his desire to lead and build the church in new ways.”
The Vatican has initiated a nine-day mourning period, and funeral arrangements are underway. A conclave to elect his successor is anticipated to begin between May 6 and May 11, 2025.
Pope Francis’s legacy includes significant reforms within the Church, advocacy for environmental issues, and efforts to modernise the institution while maintaining its core teachings.
Pope Francis Dies at 88: Tributes pour in for a Pontiff of compassion and reform
REQUIEM MASSES TO BE HELD ACROSS WALES POPE FRANCIS, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church and...
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