News

Contact tracing in Wales extended until March 2022

Published

5 years ago

June 1, 2021

WALES’ successful test, trace, protect service, which has helped to reduce the spread of coronavirus, will be extended to next year, with a further injection of Welsh Government funding.

A further £32m will be invested to extend contact tracing to March 2022.

The latest figures show that almost a year after TTP was launched in Wales, contact tracers have reached 99.7% of the positive cases that were eligible for follow up.

They successfully contacted almost 95% of the close contacts that were eligible for follow up, and provided them with advice, or helped to resolve their cases.

And local authorities have also approved more than 12,500 self-isolation support payments to help people to stay at home and reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading in their local communities.

Health and Social Services Minister Eluned Morgan said:

“Test, Trace, Protect has been extremely effective at supporting people who have tested positive and their contacts to isolate and providing advice, guidance and support. It is critical to stopping the virus spreading in our communities.

“It’s a year since we set up Test, Trace, Protect from scratch – at what the Auditor General for Wales described as an extraordinary scale and at pace. A great deal of hard work across NHS Wales, local authorities, the voluntary sector and partner organisations has created a highly-effective programme to help us keep Wales safe. Everyone involved can be extremely proud of their efforts.

“I want to thank everyone involved, including Public Health Wales and Digital Health Care Wales. In particular I want to thank the contact tracers and those providing Protect services who have provided much-needed support to people at an extremely difficult time in their lives.

“They have done much more than their title suggests – they have identified vulnerable people and got them extra support, whether that be someone to chat to, a food parcel, or linking in with vital mental health services.

“As we seek to stop the spread of new variants of concern, experienced contact tracers are key to doing this effectively and we are continuing to invest in this work.”

Research has suggested that when coronavirus transmission was high before the firebreak last year, TTP reduced the R number from approximately 1.7 to 1.3. Using the more recent R number and improvements to monitoring, its impact may be to reduce R from 1.3 to 0.8.

Contact tracers and advisers working for the TTP service are now undertaking enhanced contact tracing to tackle variants of concern.

They also:

· Manage and provide assurance to almost 18,000 travellers from amber list countries who must quarantine and take tests;

· Take vaccination programme calls from the public, arrange bookings and follow up on those who do not attend;

· Act as the contact centre for the Welsh Vaccination Certificate Service;

· Contact large businesses and local employers to encourage them to take up the Welsh Government offer of asymptomatic lateral flow tests, (LFTs);

· Contact local business, including licenced premises, hospitality and care homes, to establish correct contact details and establish if any support is needed in relation to COVID-19 measures, regulatory requirements and other public health issues;

· Support community testing sites.

Crime

Prisoner jailed for historic child abuse dies at Parc

Published

2 minutes ago

February 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Standard ombudsman investigation launched following death in custody

A prisoner serving a lengthy sentence for the rape and sexual abuse of a young child has died at HMP Parc, prison officials have confirmed.

Malcolm Coles, aged 76, passed away on Wednesday (Dec 17, 2025) while being held at the Bridgend jail.

Coles had been jailed in 2017 after a court heard he carried out a sustained campaign of abuse against a young girl over a six-year period during the 1980s, when she was between six and eleven years old.

He was convicted of one count of rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child following a trial decades after the offences took place. The victim reported the abuse more than twenty-five years later.

The court sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Confirming the death, a spokesperson for the prison said: “Mr Malcolm Coles passed away on 17 December 2025.

“As with all deaths in custody, this will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. The cause of death will be for the coroner to determine.”

No cause of death has been released at this stage.

It is understood Coles had been unwell for some time prior to his death.

All deaths in prison custody are automatically referred to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, who carries out an independent investigation into the circumstances before the matter proceeds to an inquest.

Crime

Teacher discharged as Milford School to reopen Monday after serious assault

Published

11 minutes ago

February 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Deputy head praises ‘calm and professional’ staff and pupils during lockdown

A TEACHER injured in a serious incident at Milford Haven Comprehensive School has been discharged from hospital as the school confirmed it will reopen on Monday with extra support in place.

A 15-year-old boy remains in police custody on suspicion of attempted murder following the alleged assault at around 3:20pm on Thursday (Feb 5).

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the school after reports that a pupil had assaulted a member of staff while brandishing a weapon. The site was placed into immediate lockdown, with all pupils later sent home safely.

In a fresh statement issued late on Friday afternoon, school leaders and the council thanked staff, pupils and emergency services for their response.

Deputy headteacher Daryl John said: “On behalf of the school staff and governors, I would like to thank and praise all of the staff and the small number of pupils who remained on site. They all conducted themselves with professionalism and were calm throughout.

“We are extremely grateful to the emergency services for their rapid and effective response. Our heartfelt best wishes go out to our colleague, and we look forward to their full and speedy recovery.”

Jon Harvey, leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said he was pleased the school would reopen next week.

He added: “If there are any pupils who have been affected by the incident and require additional support, please ask teachers or staff who will be able to help with well-being provision.

“Lockdowns such as that implemented on Thursday afternoon are routinely rehearsed by schools so that on the very rare occasions where they are needed, everyone knows what to do.

“As a Local Authority we will of course continue to support Milford Haven School in whatever way possible following this awful incident.”

Earlier, the council and Hywel Dda University Health Board confirmed specialist support would be available for staff and learners, and advised anyone needing urgent mental health help to call NHS 111 and press option two.

Local MP Henry Tufnell and teaching unions including NASUWT and National Education Union have also expressed concern and support for the school community.

Parents described the town as subdued, with one telling The Herald it felt “like a lockdown morning” with no children walking to school.

Police enquiries are ongoing.

Crime

Police probe fire safety damage at St Govan’s Centre in Pembroke Dock

Published

26 minutes ago

February 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are investigating after fire safety equipment was deliberately damaged at the St Govan’s Shopping Centre in Pembroke Dock.

The incident happened during the evening of Monday (Feb 2), when glass covers on several fire alarm call points inside the shopping arcade were reportedly smashed.

Centre staff said the damage posed a serious risk to public safety and warned that tampering with fire protection systems could endanger shoppers and businesses.

A spokesperson for the centre said: “This type of behaviour is extremely concerning. Damaging fire alarm equipment compromises safety and puts people at risk.

“It also leaves the centre facing unnecessary repair costs and disruption which could have been avoided.”

CCTV images have been released showing three young people who are believed to be connected to the incident. Staff are urging anyone who recognises those pictured to come forward so the matter can be addressed.

They added: “We want to make clear how dangerous this kind of behaviour is and deal with it appropriately.”

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed officers are making enquiries.

A spokesperson said: “On February 3 we received a report of criminal damage which occurred at St Govan’s Shopping Centre, Pembroke Dock, on February 2. Enquiries are ongoing.”