My office has been inundated by constituency enquiries about coronavirus related to employment rights, benefits, business support, travel, food, retail, cancellations, education and lots more. 

It’s vital to follow guidance from official and reputable sources so these pages should be used as primary sources of information, rather than news websites or social media.

This page will be updated from time to time so please keep checking back for the latest information.

General advice

• UK Government, COVID-19: guidance on social distancing and for vulnerable people
• UK Government, Stay at home guidance

Advice and information from Pembrokeshire County Council 

• https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/emergency-planning/advice-on-the-coronavirus

Health and social care policy

• Public Health Wales, Latest information on coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus and personal protective equipment
• Welsh Government, Provide critical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) (guidance for suppliers and public sector organisations)
• Welsh Government,  Welsh national COVID-19 test approach. The Welsh Government published a weekly update on 22 April
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus: testing. The Welsh Government published a review of testing on 18 April.
• Welsh Government, Critical workers testing policy
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus: testing
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus: ethical values and principles for healthcare delivery framework
• Welsh Government, Welsh national COVID-19 test approach: April 2020
• Welsh Government,  Extra hospital bed capacity for coronavirus (field hospitals)
• Welsh Government, Critical care capacity and ventilation
• Welsh Government, Wales approves home abortions during coronavirus crisis
• Welsh Government, Supporting vulnerable people privacy statement (outlines how the personal information of those who are vulnerable will be shared to ensure the delivery of essential food and medicine)
• All Wales Therapeutics & Toxicology Centre, Therapeutic advice in the appropriate use of medicines during the coronavirus pandemic
• Welsh Government Chief Medical Officer, COVID-19 response: continuation of immunisation programmes
• Welsh Government, Coordination of medicines delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Rapid guidelines and evidence reviews – the Welsh Government has said it expects NHS Wales and social care to take account of these rapid guidelines from NICE when planning and providing services during COVID-19
• Welsh Government, Health, care and volunteer workers parking pass and concessions
• Welsh Government, Vitamin D advice for everyone: coronavirus

Accessing services

• NHS Direct Wales, Symptom checker (which can provide you with a self-isolation note)
• King’s College London, Symptom tracking app. The Welsh Government are asking the public to use this app daily to log their symptoms.
• Welsh Government, Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
• Welsh Government, Letter to extremely vulnerable people: support explained
• UK Government, Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family
• Carers UK, Coronavirus guidance for carers
• Welsh Government, Simple steps to help your GP practice help you
• Welsh Government, Simple steps to help your pharmacy help you
• Welsh Government, Guidance on visits to care homes
• Welsh Government, Guidance on visiting in-patients in health settings
• Mind, Coronavirus and your wellbeing, (including information for young people and for people working from home)
• UK Government, Guidance on making a lasting power of attorney, other ways for people to make certain decisions for you in the short term, and being a deputy or attorney during the coronavirus outbreak
• UK Government, Support for the bereaved

Healthcare workers

• Welsh Government, Returning health professionals and scientists (includes doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professional and healthcare scientists)
• Welsh Government, Support for student allied health professionals during the COVID-19 epidemic
• Public Health Wales, Information for healthcare professionals
• Welsh Government, COVID-19: NHS Wales Indemnity cover for staff
• Welsh Government, COVID-19: hospital discharge service requirements
• Welsh Government, Dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic: guidance for teams
• Welsh Government Guidance for medical practitioners on excess death provisions during the COVID-19 outbreak
• Welsh Government, Mental health support scheme for doctors extended to every frontline healthcare worker in Wales
• Welsh Government, Financial support for hospices

Schools

• Welsh Government, School opening times and services: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Eligibility for ongoing provision for children who are vulnerable, or whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response (20 March)
• Welsh Government, List of ‘key worker’ professions (27 March)
• Welsh Government, 5 things you need to know before sending your children to school or childcare
• Welsh Government, Free school meals: coronavirus guidance for schools
• Welsh Government, Health and well-being for school staff and learners: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, School staff and their employment: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus: support for the supply sector (1 April)
• Welsh Government, Information for school governing bodies
• Welsh Government, Examinations and assessments: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Results Day 2020 (16 April)
• Welsh Government, Education safeguarding guidance: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Vulnerable children and safeguarding: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, School admission appeals: coronavirus
• Qualifications Wales, Coronavirus FAQs
• Qualifications Wales, Statement on Ofqual consultation (15 April 2020)
• WJEC, Supporting teachers & learners during Coronavirus
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Coronavirus – information hub for families and children

Childcare

• Welsh Government, Critical workers to get free childcare for three months (6 April)
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): childcare for under five year olds (guidance and help for parents who are key workers and childcare providers during the coronavirus pandemic)
• Welsh Government, National Minimum Standards for regulated childcare: coronavirus (COVID-19)  and Guidance on the National Minimum Standards for regulated childcare
• Care Inspectorate Wales, Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for our childcare and play providers
• Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Coronavirus – information hub for families and children
• Welsh Government, Children’s social care services during the COVID-19 pandemic: guidance
• Welsh Government, Support for childcare staff: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Support for childcare providers: coronavirus

Universities, further education and apprenticeships

• Welsh Government, Further and higher education: coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Work-based learning and apprenticeships: coronavirus
• UCAS, latest Covid-19 information and advice for prospective students
• Student Finance Wales, information and advice on making student finance applications
• National Union of Students, COVID-19 Hub (students need to register with NUS to access)
• Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), independent body set up to review student complaints about higher education providers in England and Wales

Work

• UK Government, COVID-19: guidance for employees. This includes information on sick pay and benefits. People can claim sick pay if they are self-isolating or ill. The guidance also now covers workers who cannot work because of the pandemic (known as ‘furloughed’ workers), and an eligibility checker for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, through which the UK Government will pay 80% of furloughed workers’ wages via their employers.
• UK Government, Guidance on going to work and staying at home
• UK Government, Self-employment income support scheme
• UK Government, COVID-19: guidance for employers
• House of Commons Library, Coronavirus: Employment rights and sick pay
• NHS Wales, Symptom checker and tool to get an ‘isolation’ note to give to employers
• House of Commons Library, Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: How will it fit with employment law?
• UK Government, Rules on carrying over annual leave to be relaxed to support key industries during COVID-19 (27 March)
• Welsh Government, List of ‘key worker’ professions (27 March)
• Welsh Government, Two metre rule will protect workers in Wales from coronavirus
• Welsh Government, Get help if you’re made redundant (ReAct)
• Working Wales, Advice on getting into work and redundancy
• Welsh Government, Skills match service to help people find jobs in agriculture, land and veterinary work
• Welsh Government, Online training for furloughed workforce during coronavirus pandemic

Benefits

• UK Government, Universal Credit and coronavirus
• UK Government, Increase of Working Tax Credits by £20 a week (23 March) – this matches the increase in Universal Credit
• UK Government, Face-to-face assessments for all sickness and disability benefits will be temporarily suspended for the next 3 months from Tuesday 17 March (16 March)
• House of Commons Library, Coronavirus: Claiming welfare benefits
• Step Change debt charity, Debt and coronavirus

Advice services

• Citizens Advice can provide benefits and employment advice online or on the phone – 03444 77 20 20. It also has an information page on coronavirus.
• Age Cymru is offering a new service for the over 70s to answer queries and direct people to local services & support. Anyone over 70 can register for free and receive a call back in either English or Welsh: 08000 223 444 /  enquiries@agecymru.org.uk
• Turn2Us is a national charity and welfare benefits advice service. It has a tool to find advisers in local areas, and a page on coronavirus.
• Money Advice Service, Coronavirus – what it means for you, information relating to personal finances, insurance and potential scams
• Acas, Coronavirus: advice for employers and employees

Business support 

• Business Wales, Coronavirus advice. This page includes information for businesses in Wales on financial support and grants, and business rates. The Welsh Government’s page on support for businesses also lists this information.
• UK Government, COVID-19: support for businesses (not all information on this page applies in Wales, specifically around business rate relief).
  The guidance includes support for businesses who are paying sick pay to employees, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and support for paying tax (HMRC also has a dedicated helpline for tax issues:  0800 0159 559). The guidance now also covers refers to support for businesses and self-employed people through deferring VAT and Income Tax payments.
• Support is also now available from the UK Government under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. All UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying 80% of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during the crisis.
• UK Government, Self-employment income support scheme
• UK Government, Extra protection for businesses with ban on evictions for commercial tenants who miss rent payments (23 March) – this will apply in Wales too
• UK Government, Companies to receive 3-month extension period to file accounts during COVID-19 (25 March)
• Welsh Government, Development Bank of Wales announces three month capital repayment holiday (16 March)
• UK Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for UK businesses trading internationally
• Business Wales, Covid-19 Resilience Innovation Project Support
• UK Government, Guidance for businesses and other venues on social distancing measures
• Welsh Government, Taking all reasonable measures to maintain physical distancing in the workplace – Guidance under regulation 7A of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020
• Welsh Government, ReAct and coronavirus: guidance for employers
• Welsh Government, ReAct and coronavirus: guidance for training providers

Charities, Churches and the Voluntary Sector

• WCVA, Voluntary Services Emergency Fund
• WCVA, COVID-19 updates and guidance for the voluntary sector
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for the third sector
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19) : Support for the Third Sector and Volunteering (6 April)
• Welsh Government, COVID-19 guidance for third sector organisations in receipt of Welsh Government grants
• Funding Wales, Coronavirus funding for the third sector
• WCVA, Emergency fast track loans for voluntary organisations (13 March)
• Charity Excellence Framework, COVID19 Funder List
• Charities Aid Foundation, Coronavirus Emergency Fund
• Community Foundation Wales, Wales Coronavirus Resilience Appeal
• Martin Lewis charity fund to support coronavirus-related poverty relief projects
• Steve Morgan Foundation, Coronavirus emergency fund for charities in North Wales, Merseyside and Cheshire
• Grants Online, Coronavirus funds that are accepting applications
• Volunteering Wales, COVID-19 opportunities

Housing

• House of Commons Library, Coronavirus: Housing Support
• Shelter Cymru have a coronavirus advice page and can provide housing related advice by phone – 08000 495 495

Renting

• Welsh Government, Written Statement: Social and Private Rented Sector update during the COVID-19 crisis (8 April)
• Welsh Government, Support available if you are a tenant living in Wales – COVID-19
• Welsh Government, Guidance for tenants in the private rented sector
• Welsh Government, Guidance for landlords and managing agents in the private rented sector
• Tenants are currently entitled to at least three months’ notice if their landlord wishes to evict them
• Welsh Government, Guidance for local authorities on enforcing standards in rented properties

Homeowners

• The UK Government has agreed with mortgage lenders that they will offer repayment holidays of 3 months to households in financial difficulty due to COVID-19. This has been extended to buy to let mortgages. Answers to some frequently asked questions are on the UK Finance website
• UK Government, Government support available for landlords and renters reflecting the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – this highlights that all housing possession actions in England and Wales will be suspended from 27 March for an initial period of 90 days
• UK Government, Advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (26 March)
• Welsh Government, Help to Buy Wales loan interest repayment holiday (18 March) and repayment holiday form
• Money Advice Service, A guide to mortgage payment holidays
• Financial Conduct Authority, Mortgages and coronavirus: information for consumers

Social housing and supported accommodation

• Welsh Government, Letter to all social housing tenants in Wales (coronavirus) (3 April)
• Welsh Government, Guidance for social landlords (13 March)
• Welsh Government, Health guidance for social landlords (31 March)
• Welsh Government, Guidance for local authorities and providers of supported accommodation
• Welsh Government, Social landlords housing regulation guidance (31 March)
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for providers of accommodation for survivors of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
• Welsh Government, Guidance to care and repair agencies, local authorities and registered social landlords providing housing adaptations
• Welsh Government, Guidance for dealing with people who are unwilling or unable to self-isolate or follow coronavirus lockdown instructions (28 April)

Homelessness

• Welsh Government, COVID-19 Response – Homelessness and Rough Sleepers (20 March)
• Welsh Government, Guidance for substance misuse and homelessness services (19 March)
• Welsh Government, Local authority support for rough sleepers (24 March)
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus: guidance for local authorities in supporting people sleeping rough (28 April)
• Welsh Government, Guidance for dealing with people who are unwilling or unable to self-isolate or follow coronavirus lockdown instructions (28 April)

Other housing guidance

• Public Health Wales, Housing, health, social care and support settings: Examples to inform implementation of the updated Infection Prevention and Control guidance – COVID 19

Utilities

• UK Government, Government agrees measures with energy industry to support vulnerable people through COVID-19 (19 March)
• Welsh Water, COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – A Message to Our Customers
• Wales and West Utilities, Covid-19 Update (14 March)
• British Gas, Coronavirus updates
• Virgin Media, Covid-19 updates
• EDF Energy, Coronavirus FAQs
• Npower, Coronavirus updates
• BT, Our response to coronavirus
• UK Government, Mobile networks remove data charges for online NHS coronavirus advice (18 March)
• Royal Mail, Coronavirus update (20 March)
• Ofcom, Stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic (24 March)  

Transport

• UK Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): MOTs for cars, vans and motorcycles due from 30 March 2020 –MOTs will be extended by 6 months
• UK Government, Driving tests and MOTs for heavy vehicles suspended for up to 3 months to help tackle spread of coronavirus (20 March)
• UK Government, Driving tests and theory tests
• UK Government, Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the EU and GB drivers’ hours rules: all sectors carriage of goods by road
• UK Government, COVID-19: advice for the freight transport industry

Overseas Travel

• UK Government, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)
• UK Government, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice (general)
• UK Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): Foreign Secretary’s statement on support for British people abroad (24 March)
• Civil Aviation Authority, COVID-19: Information for passengers, holidaymakers and the industry
• Civil Aviation Authority, Guidance on consumer law for airlines in the context of COVID-19
• Cardiff Airport, Novel Coronavirus COVID-19- latest advice
• StenaLine, Coronavirus Advice
• Irish Ferries, Coronavirus / COVID-19

Public transport

• UK Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK transport and travel advice
• Traveline Cymru, Coronavirus (COVID-19)- Latest Information, includes latest updates and advice on services from bus operators
• National Rail Enquiries: Coronavirus Travel Advice
• Transport for Wales, Travelling with us – Your safety and wellbeing during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• Avanti West Coast, Coronavirus travel information
• Crosscountry trains, Coronavirus: Advice for our customers
• GWR, Coronavirus
• Sustrans, Cycles for key workers

Scams and Consumer rights

• Ofcom, Advice for consumers: coronavirus scam calls and texts
• Which, Coronavirus advice from Which?
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Support for consumers
• UK Government, Competition and Markets Authority statement on sales and pricing practices during Coronavirus outbreak
• Moneysavingexpert.com, Coronavirus financial help and rights
• Association of British Insurers, Coronavirus Q & A 

Food and retail

• UK Government, Government to grant permission for pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways as part of coronavirus response (17 March)– the Welsh Government confirmed that this is the case in Wales too
• Welsh Government, Relaxation of planning enforcement related to supermarket deliveries (13 March)
• British Retail Consortium, Food retailers reassure customers and ask them to buy responsibly (15 March)
• The British Retail Consortium has set up a Coronavirus Hub to support its members. The hub includes a summary of some of the latest retailer announcements
• Aldi, Aldi’s response to COVID-19
• Asda, Steps we have taken in response to the Coronavirus outbreak (24 March) and Don’t shop this Friday before 9am (19 March)
• Iceland, Iceland pledges further support for the most vulnerable during Covid-19 crisis (23 March)
• M&S, M&S introduces dedicated shopping hours for NHS workers and vulnerable shoppers (19 March)
• Morrisons, An important update on Coronavirus (19 March)
• Sainsbury’s, Working to feed the nation (18 March)
• Tesco, COVID-19: A message to our customers (18 March) and Dedicated shopping hour for NHS staff (19 March)
• Waitrose, new measures to support customers and the vulnerable (19 March) and protect customers and partners (24 March)
• UK Government, Destroying spoilt beer during coronavirus

Community support

• Welsh Government, First Minister launches Looking Out for Each Other campaign in Wales (23 March)
• Violence Prevention Wales, Survivors and self-isolation
• UK Government, Looking after your mental wellbeing
• Public Health Wales, Public information posters
• Welsh Government, What can I do to help?
• Welsh Government, Attending funerals during the coronavirus pandemic

Culture, tourism and sport

• Welsh Government, Statement from First Minister Mark Drakeford about travelling in Wales and social distancing (22 March)
• UK Government, Mass gatherings and events
• Welsh Rugby Union, Financial support for clubs (18 March)
• Arts Council for Wales, Responding for coronavirus
• Sports Wales , Sports national centre closures
• Welsh Government , Tough new measures to slow the spread of coronavirus introduced today – this includes an announcement that caravan parks and campsites would close from 23 March 2020. These new measures will not affect those people who live permanently in park homes.
• UK Government, Mass gatherings and events
• Welsh Rugby Union, Financial support for clubs (18 March)
• Arts Council for Wales, Responding for coronavirus
• Creative Cardiff, Information for creatives during COVID-19
• Help Musicians collaboration, Corona advice for musicians  
• Sports Wales , Sports national centre closures
• Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Coronavirus (COVID-19) (25 March)
• Pembrokeshire Coast National park, COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
• Snowdonia National Park Authority, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update (25 March)

Immigration

• UK Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents
• Refugee Council, Changes to Home Office asylum & resettlement policy and practice in response to Covid-19
• UK Government, NHS frontline workers visas extended so they can focus on fighting coronavirus (31 March)
• UK Government, EU Settlement Scheme: Impact of Coronavirus

Vulnerable groups

• Welsh Government, Get coronavirus support as an extremely vulnerable person
• RNIB, Coronavirus and accessible online information
• Welsh Government, Support for victims of domestic abuse
• Violence Prevention Wales, Survivors and self-isolation
• Older People’s Commissioner, Coronavirus Information Hub
• Learning Disability Wales, Coronavirus: resources for people with a learning disability
• Welsh Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for the ethnic minority communities (27 March)

Agriculture and fisheries

• Welsh Government, Emergency measures to support farmers during Covid-19 unveiled (1 April)
• Welsh Government, FarmWell Wales
• Welsh Government, Rural Payments Wales (RPW): coronavirus (COVID-19)
• NFU Cymru, Coronavirus hub
• The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW), information and advice relating to the coronavirus.
• TB Hub provides information on Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) contingency planning on bovine TB testing during the pandemic.
• Seafish, Coronavirus updates for the seafood industry
• The Fishermen’s Mission, Covid-19 Helping Us To Help You
• Twitter message to the fishing and seafood industry from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs
• The Marine Management Organisation, A guide to current financial and welfare support for the fishing industry
• Welsh Government, Skills match service to help people find jobs in agriculture, land and veterinary work

Animal Welfare

• UK Government, Guidance for people with animals (including pets)
• RSPCA Cymru, Emergency service during coronavirus lockdown
• Welsh Government, Caring for your animals during the coronavirus outbreak (pet and livestock owners)

Construction

• UK Government, Letter to the UK construction sector (31 March)
• Construction Leadership Council, Site Operating Procedures – Protecting Your Workforce
• Construction Leadership Council, Advice on temporary suspension of sites
• Build UK, Guidance on Contractual Issues Caused by Coronavirus

Courts and prisons

• Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, Coronavirus Crisis: Guidance on Compliance with Family Court Child Arrangement Orders
• Welsh Government, Guidance for Cafcass Cymru clients
• Welsh Government, Update on child arrangement orders
• UK Government, COVID-19: Courts and tribunals planning and preparation
• UK Government, COVID-19: Visiting prisons
• UK Government, COVID-19: Prisons and other prescribed places of detention guidance

Planning

• Welsh Government, Coronavirus: guidance to planning authorities (27 March)
• New regulations came into force on 30 March allowing local authorities to undertake development on their land in response to the coronavirus emergency without needing to apply for and obtain planning permission. As a result, for example, local authorities can now use leisure centres as temporary hospitals.