2020 in Wales

2020
in
Wales
Centuries:
Decades:
See also:List of years in Wales
Timeline of Welsh history
2020 in
The United Kingdom
England
Scotland
Elsewhere

Events from the year 2020 in Wales.

Incumbents

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Events

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January

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February

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March

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April

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May

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June

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July

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  • 2 JulyAirbus confirms that 1,435 jobs will be lost at Broughton in Flintshire.[47]
  • 3 JulyCOVID-19 pandemic in Wales: The Welsh government confirms that travel restrictions resulting from the pandemic will be relaxed from 6 July.[48]
  • 15 July – The Welsh Government agrees to debate Welsh independence for the first time since the Welsh Assembly was created in 1999. The debate is at the request of Plaid Cymru, following poll results that show a high level of approval for the devolved government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales.[49]
  • 31 JulyHM Coastguard announce the deployment of unmanned aircraft for search and rescue purposes over North Wales during the coming weekend.[50]

August

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September

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  • 7 SeptemberCOVID-19 pandemic in Wales: The first local lockdown in Wales is announced, as the county of Caerphilly is placed under restrictions that will last at least a month. It follows the discovery that 98 people have tested positive in a week, giving the county the highest infection rate in Wales.[55]
  • 21 September – Right-wing extremists from all over the UK are blamed by the police and First Minister for blocking the entrance to a former army camp at Penally in Pembrokeshire being used temporarily to house asylum seekers from Iran and Iraq.[56]
  • 25 September
    • Swansea, Llanelli and Cardiff go into local lockdown, joining Caerphilly, Newport, Bridgend, Merthyr, Blaenau Gwent and Rhondda Cynon Taf.[57]
    • Ford Bridgend Engine Plant closes.[58]
  • 30 September – It is confirmed that eight patients have died in an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, and that 60 patients have been infected from a source at the hospital. All surgery at the hospital is suspended. Pontypridd MP Alex Davies-Jones and AM Mick Antoniw issue a joint statement expressing their concern.[59]

October

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  • 9 October
  • 10 OctoberBangor, Gwynedd, goes into a local lockdown, joining other North Wales counties: Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.[62]
  • 23 October – A 'firebreak' lockdown is imposed by the Welsh government for a 16-day period.[63] Supermarkets and other large stores are prohibited from selling 'non-essential goods', because many smaller retailers are forced to close.[64]
  • 27 October – After a petition is submitted to the Senedd, requesting it remove the ban on selling non-essential goods, the government reviews the policy and issues clarification.[65][66]

November

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  • 17 November – There are calls for an inquiry into the handling of COVID-19 cases in hospitals and care homes after it is revealed that 53 people were discharged from hospital into Welsh care homes within days of testing positive during the early stages of the pandemic.[67]
  • 20 November – The Welsh government announces that the 17-day Wales firebreak lockdown had an impact on coronavirus figures but warns that restrictions might be re-imposed before Christmas if the downturn does not last.[68]
  • 26 November – New COVID restrictions, to come into force on 4 December, are provisionally announced.[69]

December

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  • 20 December – COVID restrictions are amended, and the previously announced relaxation of rules over the Christmas break is rescinded. The Welsh government announces a complete lockdown in Wales with effect from midnight, with a relaxation of only a few hours on Christmas Day.[70]
  • 29 December – Police impose fines on visitors from England who have broken COVID restrictions in order to visit Pen y Fan.[71]
  • 31 December – Welsh people honoured in the Queen's New Year Honours list include Professor Anthony Keith Campbell (CBE), surgeon Farah Batti (OBE), footballer Alan Curtis (MBE), and Carol Doggett, matron of Morriston Hospital (MBE).[72]

Arts and literature

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National Eisteddfod of Wales

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Gŵyl AmGen prizes: [73]

  • Cystadleuaeth y Stôl Farddoniaeth (Poetry Competition) – Terwyn Tomos
  • Cystadleuaeth y Stôl Ryddiaith (Prose Competition) – Llŷr Gwyn Lewis

Awards

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New books

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English language

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Welsh language

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Music

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New albums

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New compositions

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Film

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Broadcasting

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English language

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Welsh language

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Sport

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Deaths

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Terry Jones
Mohammad Asghar
Denise Idris Jones

References

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