Summary

  • People around Wales have joined the weekly applause for health service and other key workers

  • Details of a review of the lockdown in Wales are expected on Friday, following a Welsh cabinet meeting on Thursday evening

  • Schools in Wales will not reopen on 1 June after closing due to coronavirus, Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirms

  • Public Health Wales reported a further 18 deaths with Covid-19 in Wales on Thursday, making a total of 1,062 deaths

  • The chief executive of Public Health Wales has said she was "not familiar" with Welsh ministers' original aim to carry out 9,000 daily coronavirus tests by the end of April

  • The Bank of England warns that the pandemic will push the UK economy towards its deepest recession on record

  • The contribution of front-line workers and those helping during the coronavirus pandemic is being celebrated by BBC Wales' Welsh Heroes Day

  1. That's it for tonightpublished at 21:00 BST 7 May 2020

    Thanks for following our updates today, including Wales' weekly tributes to key workers - through clapping, hooting, singing and more.

    That's the end of our live coverage for Thursday, but we'll be back with more on Friday morning.

    We'll also bring you the Welsh Government's daily briefing at 12:30 BST, where we're expecting to hear details of the next stage in the lockdown here.

    Here's a reminder of some of the other developments from Thursday:

    • Schools in Wales will not reopen on 1 June, the education minister confirmed
    • Public Health Wales reported a further 18 deaths with Covid-19
    • Its chief executive said she was "not familiar" with ministers' original aim to carry out 9,000 daily tests by the end of April
  2. Bells ring at church for seventh weekly applausepublished at 20:47 BST 7 May 2020

    The bells rang at a Cardiff church as part of the seventh weekly applause for the NHS and key workers.

    St Saviour's Church in Splott posted a video on Twitter of the words "Clap for Carers" chalked on the path leading to the church.

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  3. Convoy of lorries hoot for key workers in Carmarthenpublished at 20:41 BST 7 May 2020

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    A convoy of lorries got in on the act in Carmarthen, joining the applause with their horns.

    BBC Wales reporter Rachael Garside tweeted a video of the hooting lorries crossing a roundabout.

  4. The Menai Bridge is all aglow for key workerspublished at 20:36 BST 7 May 2020

    The Menai BridgeImage source, @madmaz2112/Twitter

    The Menai Bridge is aglow in tribute to all health workers and their counterparts in the other professions on the Covid-19 front line.

    Marilyn Williams tweeted this image, external of the crossing turned luminous for this evening's applause.

  5. RAF crews join applausepublished at 20:31 BST 7 May 2020

    "From one service to another", the RAF says, as its crews join the thanks.

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  6. 'Community spirit at its best'published at 20:28 BST 7 May 2020

    It would take more than a lockdown to dampen the community spirit in this police officer's street.

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  7. It's another blue Thursday in Cardiffpublished at 20:22 BST 7 May 2020

    Landmarks and buildings in Cardiff Bay and the city centre have been turned bright blue once again, including the Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff Castle.

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  8. 'Rainbow bridge' on A55 bathed in multicoloured lightpublished at 20:18 BST 7 May 2020

    The "Rainbow Bridge" on the A55Image source, Welsh Government
    Image caption,

    The "Rainbow Bridge" on the A55

    A bridge on the A55 has been lit in the colours of the rainbow in tribute to NHS and other key workers on the coronavirus front line.

    A "thank you" message has also been projected onto the cliff-side near the footbridge - known colloquially as the rainbow bridge due to its arched shape - between Llandulas and Old Colwyn.

    The tribute was arranged by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent, which maintains the road network there.

    Ken Skates, North Wales Minister, said: “The Rainbow Bridge has become the symbol of something special during these difficult times.

    "I’m pleased that we were able to accommodate the wishes of people who asked if it could be lit up to honour the key workers across the country who are doing such a tremendous job.

    “This will also include members of the trunk road agent themselves, who maintain our road network on a daily basis, keeping essential travellers safe, including the emergency services and freight.”

  9. Firefighters film applause outside stationpublished at 20:14 BST 7 May 2020

    Firefighters filmed themselves applauding outside their station in Abertillery.

    "We all want to say a BIG thank you to our NHS colleagues," South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.

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  10. Famous faces add their voices to message of thankspublished at 20:11 BST 7 May 2020

    There are a few recognisable faces in this video offering thanks to all those fighting coronavirus on the front line.

    Actor Michael Sheen and rugby stars Gareth Thomas and Liam Williams are among those paying tribute.

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  11. 'Thank you', say air ambulance staffpublished at 20:08 BST 7 May 2020

    "Thank you!" was the message from Wales Air Ambulance.

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  12. 'We appreciate you all,' South Wales Police sayspublished at 20:05 BST 7 May 2020

    South Wales Police have thanked NHS workers as part of week seven's Clap For Carers.

    "We appreciate you all," the force wrote on Twitter.

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  13. Rainbows on carriages as part of weekly thankspublished at 20:03 BST 7 May 2020

    Transport for Wales has unveiled rainbows in its carriages as part of the weekly tribute paid to NHS and key workers.

    "We'd like to thank our fellow key workers for all their hard work during this period and for keeping our country going," they tweeted.

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  14. Men of Harlech for 'heroes of this time'published at 19:58 BST 7 May 2020

    A new version of Men of Harlech has been recorded as a tribute to all the key workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

    It was written by poet Mererid Hopwood, with singer Sir Bryn Terfel adding his voice.

    He said it was for the "true heroes of this time".

  15. Lockdown review details at Friday lunchtimepublished at 19:55 BST 7 May 2020

    The First Minister Mark Drakeford is expected to outline how and when minor adjustments could begin to be made to the lockdown during the Welsh Government's daily press conference at 12:30 BST.

    The announcement will be made two days ahead of when Boris Johnson is expected to make an address on Sunday to set out the plan for England.

    Mr Drakeford's approach is expected to be cautious, with a focus on ensuring the 'R" rate of the virus - how many other people are infected by each person with the virus - is not allowed to rise.

  16. Police officer tells of spitting attackpublished at 19:43 BST 7 May 2020

    PC Rob JonesImage source, Police Federation

    A police officer coughed on and threatened with Covid-19 has told how the experience left him anxious for his family's health.

    PC Rob Jones said the incident was "petrifying" and that his colleagues are fearful of daily spitting and coughing attacks.

    The officer, with 16 years’ service with North Wales Police, spoke out after a man was sentenced to 26 weeks at Mold Crown Court after being convicted of assault.

    PC Jones said: “He was being detained in the back of a vehicle when he repeatedly started shouting: 'I’m going to spit in your face.'

    "We intended to use a spit guard to protect us, but when we opened the door to take him into custody, he went straight for me.

    “It all happened so quickly, and he deliberately coughed within a few inches of my face. I could even feel the warm air from his mouth, and it was horrifying.”

    North Wales Police Federation said the attack was part of a growing trend, and has called for prison sentences in similar cases.

  17. Details of Welsh lockdown review expected on Fridaypublished at 19:31 BST 7 May 2020

    The Welsh cabinet has finished its second meeting of the day.

    There's no more information about what's been decided about the future of the lockdown yet, but we are now expecting to hear more details on Friday.

  18. Celebrating Wales' coronavirus heroespublished at 19:23 BST 7 May 2020

    Ahead of this week's round of applause for key workers at 20:00 BST, here's a look at how people have been helping their communities during the crisis.

    Today, their contribution is being celebrated by the BBC's Welsh Heroes Day.

  19. Black Britons face 'twice the risk' of virus deathpublished at 18:56 BST 7 May 2020

    Woman wearing mask walks past mural in LondonImage source, Getty Images

    Black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die with coronavirus as white people in Wales and England, according to the Office for National Statistics.

    The analysis shows the inequality persists after taking into account age, where people live and some measures of deprivation and prior health.

    People from Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities also had a significantly higher risk of dying.

    The UK government has launched a review and the Welsh Government said that would inform its planning and response.

  20. A special thank you for specialspublished at 18:38 BST 7 May 2020

    South Wales Police special constables have volunteered over 10,000 hours since lockdown, the force says.

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