Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information for individuals and businesses in Wales
Use this page to navigate the latest guidance on the virus for people in Wales
Individuals and families
Health
Read the latest information about COVID-19 from Public Health Wales.
See the latest advice from NHS Direct Wales and use the Coronavirus COVID-19 Symptom Checker.
Staying at home and shielding
Read stay-at-home guidance for households with possible coronavirus.
Also read guidance on shielding and protecting people defined as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.
Testing in Wales
Read details about the Welsh Government’s approach to testing for COVID-19 in Wales.
Coronavirus and the law in Wales
Read information about how the law is being applied to tackle COVID-19 and where coronavirus laws are different in Wales.
Guidance for employees
Read all the latest guidance for employees including details about staying at home, Statutory Sick Pay and Universal Credit.
Also check if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to cover 80% of your regular wage, up to a monthly cap of £2,500.
Sickness and disability benefits
Face-to-face assessments for all sickness and disability benefits will be temporarily suspended for the next 3 months from Tuesday 17 March.
No further action is required by any claimant as a result of this change. They will be contacted with advice on next steps.
Travel
Find out all the latest travel advice and sign up for travel alerts via the Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) website.
Education
Find the latest information on schools and educational settings via the Welsh Government website.
Housing
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. Customers who are concerned about their current financial situation should contact their lender at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss if this is a suitable option for them.
The Welsh Government has agreed that measures developed by the UK Government to suspend evictions from social or private rented accommodation will apply to Welsh tenants. The three month mortgage payment holiday will also be extended to Buy to Let mortgages to protect landlords.
Community support
- The Welsh Government has launched its Looking Out for Each Other campaign about how to help people who are staying at home because of coronavirus. Find out more via the gov.wales/safehelp online hub.
- Find out more about volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic via the Welsh Government’s website.
- Read advice about looking after your mental wellbeing.
- Read about support for victims of domestic abuse.
- Find out how to protect yourself from fraud and scams during the COVID-19 pandemic via Action Fraud.
Businesses
General guidance for employers
The Welsh Government has published guidance for businesses and employers including details about your responsibilities as an employer and how to implement physical distancing in the workplace.
You can also stay up to date with information about the reopening of businesses and premises via the Welsh Government’s website.
Find coronavirus financial support for your business
Use the business support finder to see what support is available for you and your business.
UK Government support for businesses
The UK Government has set out a package of measures to protect public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19.
All businesses in Wales could benefit from the following schemes and announcements:
-
Businesses will receive government grants worth up to 80% of wages to keep workers in jobs. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will pay up to £2,500 per worker each month, helping those who are self-isolating or caring for loved ones. The scheme closes to new entrants from 1 July 2020 but to qualify employers must have placed employees on furlough by 10 June so that they’ve finished the minimum furlough period by 30 June.
-
Support for businesses through deferring VAT and Income Tax payments.
Support for the self-employed:
- Millions of people across the UK could benefit from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, with those eligible receiving a cash grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profit.
- The Self- Assessment payment on account, that is ordinarily due to be paid to HMRC by 31 July 2020 may now be deferred until January 2021.
Support for small and medium sized businesses:
-
Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme via the British Business Bank. The scheme will deliver loans of up to £5 million for eligible businesses and is interest free for 12 months.
-
The Bounce Back Loan scheme will help small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000. The UK Government will guarantee 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months.
-
UK-based start-ups and scale-ups can apply for the Future Fund, delivered in partnership with the British Business Bank. Eligible companies can apply for a convertible loan of between £125,000 and £5 million to support their continued growth and innovation and the Fund will be open until September.
-
Support for businesses who are paying sick pay to employees.
Support for larger businesses:
-
The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) will provide a government guarantee of 80% to enable banks to make loans of up to £25m to firms with an annual turnover of between £45m and £500m.
-
The Bank of England COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility is designed to support liquidity among larger firms, helping them to bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through the purchase of short-term debt in the form of commercial paper.
Welsh Government support for businesses
Because some aspects of business support are devolved, the Welsh Government has set out a range of support measures via the Business Wales website.
Further support and helplines
HMRC tax helpline
HMRC has set up a helpline for businesses and self-employed people who are concerned about paying their tax due to COVID-19.
Call 08000 241222 for help and advice.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Business Wales support
Get help with your business online by contacting Business Wales
How you can help
Last updated 10 June 2020 + show all updates
-
Updated information on the Job Retention Scheme and details about business closures in Wales.
-
Added information about the Future Fund, which has launched today.
-
Updated guidance with links to the latest coronavirus information from the Welsh Government.
-
Updated information with details of the Bounce Back Loan scheme and Welsh Government support.
-
Updated information with the business support finder tool.
-
Updated links to information and added guidance to check if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
-
Updated information about support for businesses of various sizes in Wales.
-
Updated community support information including details on volunteering, support for victims of domestic abuse and protecting yourself from fraud and scams.
-
Updated information about Welsh Government's new Economic Resilience Fund
-
Updated with latest links from the Business Support website
-
Updated with information about the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.
-
Updated the HMRC helpline number.
-
Updated with information for businesses and details of schemes to support the UK Government tackle COVID-19.
-
Updated with the latest guidance on staying at home and away from others.
-
Updated information about healthcare guidance, housing guidance and support for businesses.
-
Updated information about support for employees and details of the call to support the supply of ventilators and components.
-
Added information about business support following the Chancellor's announcement
-
Updated information about Welsh Government business support
-
Included information about NHS Direct Wales and changes to Public Health Wales' website.
-
Updated guidance
-
Added translation