The advice for returning travellers is being regularly updated. The nature of the evolving situation and the importance of taking a proportionate response means there is specific guidance for travellers returning from specific areas of the world. The latest advice can be accessed on both the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales websites, and the Public Health Wales website is, of course, updated at 3 o'clock every day.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website is the definitive source of travel advice for the British public. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to advise: that people do not travel to Hubei Province in China; to only undertake essential travel to mainland China; and to only undertake essential travel to a small number of specific areas within certain countries, including 11 specific small towns in northern Italy. That travel advice is being updated to reflect changing entry restrictions that are being imposed by some countries for recent travellers to affected areas. This travel advice is under constant review and people should regularly check the country-specific information on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.

I would like to reiterate that anyone who has travelled back from an affected area or who has concerns that they're a close contact of a confirmed case should not attend their GP practice or present at hospital emergency departments. People should look on the Public Health Wales or Welsh Government websites for the latest advice. If, having considered the guidance online, people have concerns regarding coronavirus, they can now call the free 111 number from anywhere in Wales. Doing this will mean people get assessed by the right NHS staff and, at the same time, limit the possible spread to others.

I ask people to be patient and recognise the additional pressures this situation places on services that are already under pressure. People should remain calm whilst awaiting assistance. The need for assessment will be triaged based on an assessment of the likelihood of infection. We do need to remember that, to date, over 450 tests have taken place with only one imported case to Wales being confirmed out of the numbers tested. We also know that, even where cases are confirmed, the majority of people have mild or no real symptoms. People in Wales require urgent life-saving assistance on a daily basis from our NHS in relation to a range of sudden illnesses, long-term conditions or accidents. The NHS will rightly continue to prioritise life-threatening situations.

NHS Wales has already developed a test for the virus and has so far tested hundreds of individuals, as I have mentioned. This test has now been added to our existing disease surveillance programme in Wales. This will mean that certain GP practices will submit samples for testing as well as tests being undertaken in some of our intensive care units. This should ensure we're able to quickly identify any undetected spread of the virus within the population.

The community assessment and testing units set up by health boards, together with Public Health Wales, have meant the vast majority of people have been tested in their own home. It is an important feature of our response in Wales that over 90 per cent of tests have been carried out in that person's home. This approach has been vital in allowing our NHS to continue to respond to the services they provide and the heightened demand that we see through winter.

We have already asked health boards to identify areas away from emergency departments where individuals can be assessed without compromising other patients. This approach is intended both to direct individuals away from emergency departments and to avoid the potential risk of infecting others. We positively do not want people going to hospital for initial assessment if they are concerned that they may have coronavirus, or have symptoms having travelled to one of the specific at-risk areas.

Further planning and preventative work is under way. Our pandemic flu plans already exist, and organisations across our local resilience fora in Wales, as well as our NHS, have been asked to consider those plans. We want all our civil contingency partners to be ready and prepared to take action should the current situation escalate. These plans cover a variety of scenarios, including the reasonable worst-case scenarios. This is, of course, the responsible choice for the Welsh Government and our partners. We are preparing for the worst to ensure that we are in the best practical position to protect the health of the people of Wales.

The First Minister and I took part in yesterday's COBRA meeting. We continue to work closely with the UK Government and other national devolved Governments on coronavirus planning. A joint UK action plan was, of course, published earlier today. Members will be aware that Ministers across all four UK Governments are considering whether enhanced legal powers are necessary to contain or mitigate the potential impact of this virus. Work is taking place upon the foundation of the previous pandemic flu Bill preparations. Our aim is to have a single consistent piece of UK-wide legislation, if legislation is required. A number of matters would be reserved, but devolved powers must, of course, continue to be exercised by national devolved Governments.

Some major public events have been cancelled or postponed. This has typically been done to limit the risk of transmitting coronavirus at gatherings of large numbers of people. A number of school closures have taken place in other countries for similar reasons. Now, these are possible future choices for the Welsh Government to help slow the spread of the virus. We are, however, not at that stage. Schools should remain open. There is, of course, clear guidance for schools here in Wales that is publicly available on the Welsh Government website.

Enhanced monitoring arrangements are in place at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham airports. These airports receive direct flights from the majority of affected areas. Cardiff Airport and our other key seaports currently have public awareness materials in place. Enhanced monitoring arrangements for Cardiff Airport can be implemented at speed, should they be needed. The response needs to be proportionate. It is important to recognise that any entry screening has significant limitations in identifying potential cases.

These decisions are complex, and the Welsh Government, together with the other three national Governments across the UK, are advised by scientific experts and of course by the four chief medical officers. There is a careful balance to strike between protecting health and potentially doing more harm as a result of putting restrictions in place. The length of time any restrictions would need to be in place in order to effectively impact on the spread of the virus is one of our key considerations. Closing services such as schools or restricting travel have significant implications in their own right and may outweigh the benefit of delaying the spread of the virus.

The reality is, though, that often, the simple things are the most important. Everyone can help to protect themselves and others. The best way to slow the spread of respiratory viruses are to always carry tissues, use them to catch coughs and sneezes, bin the tissue, and then wash your hands with soap and water. 'Catch it, bin it, kill it', as I'm sure you'll hear me and many other people say for many days ahead.

Unfortunately, some people in Wales, just as in the rest of the UK, have been subjected to prejudiced and racist comments. For the avoidance of doubt, this Government does not tolerate and will not excuse the racism and prejudice that we have seen and heard. This global public health emergency does not discriminate between different races and faiths. Our people should not use this global public health emergency as an excuse to do so.

I want to end by thanking our staff. NHS and Welsh Government staff have worked long hours on all days to help prepare us for the potential impact of coronavirus. Our partners in local government and the emergency services have already been stretched by the current and continuing emergency response to significant flooding events around the country. I am grateful for their extraordinary and continuing commitment and professionalism. Public safety is their overriding priority, just as it is for this Government. I will, of course, continue to provide Members and the public with regular updates.