We have put together a round-up of all the latest news, weather, and travel information for Thursday, March 31, that will get you caught up and ready for the day. Covid test centre staff in Wales say they have been "thrown to the wolves" as some get just days notice their job would disappear.
From today all PCR testing sites which have become commonplace in areas like Cardiff City's Leckwith Stadium will no longer be needed as people will not be allowed to book PCR tests if they have symptoms. See more details on that story here.
Some test centres have been open for nearly two years, with the BBC reporting some staff feel they have been "thrown to the wolves" with little help after the closures were announced earlier this week.
Read more: All the changes to benefits being introduced in April
The Welsh government has said all PCR testing sites in Wales would close, including mass testing sites. Only four mobiles testing units run by the Welsh Ambulance Service will remain open, as well as community testing units run by health boards and linked to health and care settings. There are not open to the general public and only health staff and the vulnerable will be sent there for tests.
One north Wales employee who wished to remain anonymous told BBC Wales that staff had initially been offered a contract until August. But in February they were given four days' notice that their site was closing. It followed the UK government's announcement that free Covid testing would come to an end by April.
"People were actually in shock, thinking 'wow, four days' - all of a sudden in four days, you're thrown to the wolves." He said staff were offered "advice on CV writing, but it all seemed too little, too late to help you benefit".
"That just seemed to be a token gesture. I think that's what the staff basically thought - they're ticking boxes," he added. He also said workers were not eligible for redundancy because of the length of the employment.
In other news, temperatures have dropped significantly as snow is forecast in parts of the country. Despite the unseasonably warm weather earlier in the month, it seems as though winter is not over yet with as Wales is colder than Iceland as spring approaches.
Arctic winds are set to bring a blast of cold weather until Friday, with the chance of snow in many parts of Wales. The Met Office forecast for the country is showing the white stuff is set to fall in parts of south, mid and north Wales. This is a sudden shift from earlier in the week where some parts felt highs of 19°C.
The Met Office charts are showing where it is most likely you will see snow or sleet in Wales. There is some snow in the forecast for parts of south east Wales between 1am and 4am on Thursday (March 31), and it is going to feel extremely cold. You can find the full forecast here.
Wales news headlines
Search ends for Welsh doctor missing in New Zealand
The search for a Swansea doctor reported missing in New Zealand has been called off.
David Holland, 31, from Swansea went missing on March 11 after telling friends he was going swimming near his home in Tauranga, New Zealand.
Local police said that all available lines of enquiry had been "exhausted" and " further searching cannot occur without evidence to narrow any areas of interest", according to the BBC.
Police are still appealing for any information regarding Mr Holland's movements and whereabouts to come forward.
His mum, Karen Holland, of Swansea, who has flown to New Zealand with her son Rhodri, and met up with David's girlfriend Olivia, previously told WalesOnline : “We would just like to thank everyone for their messages of support at this heartbreaking time and to everyone who has contributed to the fund, it’s been truly overwhelming.”
So far, a total of £12,570 has been raised through a GoFundMe page, set-up by Dean Ella along with a couple of Swansea friends, to help support the family “to navigate this inconceivable situation.” Mr Holland, who has been living in Tauranga for about four years, had been living with flatmates in the Papamoa area.
Cardiff and Vale health board under extreme pressure as A&E unable to meet demand
A second Welsh health board has declared a 'black alert' indicating it is under the most extreme level of pressure as emergency departments struggle to cope with high numbers of patients.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board issued a statement on Thursday night announcing that the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, and University Hospital Llandough sites are operating at escalation level four, the highest available level of escalation that denotes extreme pressure.
Escalation level four can lead to operations and other services being cancelled. It comes the day after neighbouring Aneurin Bevan University Health Board declared a business continuity incident - also known as a black alert - the highest alert level available as as services are under "sustained and unprecedented pressure". In February, Cwm Taf health board also went to black alert for 48 hours.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said staff are urging people to consider all the healthcare options available to them. Emergency units are "extremely busy" and are suggesting that people only visit the accident and emergency units at UHW if absolutely necessary or if patients have a life-threatening illness or serious injury.
Today's forecast
Wales will feel cold with sunshine and showers, some of which will be wintry, according to the Met Office forecast for Wales.
Today:
Cloud gradually clearing the far south during the morning, elsewhere some decent sunny spells after a cold and frosty start. Isolated showers, locally wintry over the hills, it will feel cold in the brisk northeasterly wind. Maximum temperature 9 °C.
Tonight:
Any showers will quickly die out during the evening, leaving most places dry with some long clear spells. Turning frosty overnight. Minimum temperature -4 °C.
Here is how the roads and rail are affected at 7am
There are no issues to report.
National news headlines
UK sends warning to China over Russia relationship
The head of Britain’s GCHQ spy agency is warning China not to become “too closely aligned” with Russia as it continues to pursue its path of aggression against Ukraine. In a rare public address during a visit to Australia, Sir Jeremy Fleming will say President Vladimir Putin has made a “strategic miscalculation” over his assault on his neighbour.
He will say that China’s long-term interests are not well served by an alliance with a country that “wilfully and illegally” ignores the international “rules of the road”. His intervention comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week directly confronted President Xi Jinping over Beijing’s stance on the conflict in Ukraine in what was described as a “frank and candid” discussion.
Speaking at the Australian National University in Canberra, Sir Jeremy will say that President Putin has made a clear “strategic choice” to align with China as it grows more powerful in direct opposition to the United States. From the Kremlin’s point of view, it regards China in the current crisis as a supplier of weapons, a provider of technology, a market for its oil and gas and a means to circumvent sanctions.
Tributes paid to The Wanted's Tom Parker after he dies at 33
The Wanted's Tom Parker has died after battling a brain tumour. He was 33. Tom, who grew up in Bolton, announced in October 2020 that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable grade 4 tumour. He had suffered seizures in advance of the diagnosis.
In November 2021 he said that the tumour was "stable". His final Instagram post was just two days ago, a picture of the band with the words "dream team". Tom held a charity concert in September last year at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of Stand Up to Cancer. Entitled 'Inside My Head', it featured Becky Hill, McFly, Liam Payne and a first performance with The Wanted since 2014.
He married Kelsey Hardwick in 2018. They have a daughter, born in 2019, and a son, born in 2020. Kelsey wrote on Instagram: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side. Our hearts are broken.
"Tom was the centre of our world and we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence. We are truly thankful for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we all unite to ensure Tom’s light continues to shine for his beautiful children. Thank you to everyone who has supported in his care throughout, he fought until the very end. I’m forever proud of you."
Sport headlines
Gareth Bale transfer update issued as 'decent fee' could get striker in
Gareth Bale's future will be decided after Wales' World Cup play-off final against either Scotland or Ukraine, his agent has said. Quite where the Wales talisman's next club will be is a mystery, with some bookmakers even having his hometown team Cardiff City topping their odds lists.
Wales and Liverpool icon Ian Rush has had his say in recent days, believing that a move to the Bluebirds in the Championship might actually make some sense. You can read more about why Bale moving to Cardiff makes perfect sense here.
Bale proved he has still got what it takes to turn it on in the big occasions, too, netting two fantastic goals in Wales' crucial 2-1 win over Austria last Thursday in the play-off semi-final at Cardiff City Stadium. The final, though, will likely be played when his Real Madrid contract is days from running out.
And agent Jonathan Barnett has told the BBC : "We have not discussed anything yet. Once we know Wales' situation with the World Cup, we will discuss it then."
Bale, who has won 14 trophies during his nine years at the Bernabeu, towed the party line ahead of concentrating solely on Wales duty for the coming months.
"I haven't thought about that at all, since we knew we were going to be in this situation my sole focus has just been on this," Bale said last week. "Thinking about future can cause doubts I guess in your own mind, so I've not been thinking about that."
