Coronavirus: Two more cases in Wales brings total to four

Two more people in Wales have tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the total number in Wales to four.

The two latest cases are members of the same household in Pembrokeshire who had travelled back from northern Italy, Wales' chief medical officer has said.

Both individuals have been in self-isolation since their return and are being managed in a "clinically appropriate setting".

Public Health Wales (PHW) said it was identifying their close contacts.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Government has confirmed that emergency legislation introduced by the UK government would also apply in Wales.

"The public can be assured that Wales and the whole of the UK is prepared for these types of incidents," said Dr Giri Shankar, from PHW.

"Working with our partners in Wales and the UK, we have implemented our planned response, with robust infection control measures in place to protect the health of the public."

The nationwide steps came as a man in this 60s became the third person in the UK to die after testing positive for coronavirus, on Sunday.

The man, who had "significant" underlying health problems, died at North Manchester General Hospital, NHS England said.

The number of UK cases has risen to 273 - up from 209 on Saturday.

Wales' other two cases, one person from Swansea and one from Cardiff, had also returned from northern Italy.

Elsewhere, Italy has placed millions of people under quarantine as it battles to contain the spread of the virus.

Wales' chief medical officer Dr Frank Atherton said: "I can confirm that two additional individuals in Wales have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of positive cases in Wales to four.

"All appropriate measures to provide care for the individuals and to reduce the risk of transmission to others are being taken."

A new symptom checker for suspected coronavirus has been launched online by the Welsh NHS as attempts continue to halt the spread of the virus.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said the online service should be the "first port of call" as the NHS 111 telephone lines are "very busy".

And a car park for an old medical clinic is doubling up as Wales' first drive-through coronavirus testing centre at Rossett, near Wrexham.

As of Friday, 634 people in Wales had been tested for the virus, according to PHW.

The tests are being conducted by specialists with about 90% being carried out in people's own homes.

Coronavirus presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing.

Wales' Health Secretary Vaughan Gething confirmed on Sunday that the UK government's proposed emergency legislation - which would include allowing workers to temporarily leave their jobs and could see retired health professionals registered again - would apply to all four UK nations.

He said a range of those powers would be for ministers in Wales to exercise.

"These emergency powers will allow us to respond quickly and effectively to the Covid-19 outbreak by strengthening quarantine and mass gathering powers," he said.

"These powers are an important, proportionate and coordinated response to help us do that."

Funding from the Treasury to help deal with the outbreak should be "distributed on the basis of need", Wales' Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said on Sunday.

She told BBC's Politics Wales the Welsh Government was "currently managing to deal with the coronavirus within our existing financial budget in respect of the NHS".

The minister said she intended to raise the point at a meeting with the UK government's chief treasury secretary on Tuesday.