As we reached the end of another dramatic week in the battle against coronavirus, there were two tales of Covid-19 survivors in Northern Ireland to warm the heart.
The family of Geoffrey McKillop, a 56-year-old father-of-three from Bushmills, has suffered several tragedies over the years, and were fearing another when, after suffering from Covid-19 at home for 10 days, Geoffrey was admitted to the ICU unit at Causeway Hospital and put on a ventilator.
However, the businessman has now recovered and when he was wheeled out of intensive care on Tuesday, he received rapturous applause from doctors and nurses.
Another man who survived a harrowing ordeal as he battled the virus was Co Down man Jack McCullough. He had pneumonia in both lungs but has now overcome Covid-19. He told his story during a video put online by the Southern Health Trust.
While those stories will provide many of us with encouragement, there was more sobering news later on Friday as the deaths of another 18 people with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland were confirmed. Sadly, the death toll in the Province from people with Covid-19 has now reached 365.
Statistics reveal 40% of Covid-19 deaths occurred in care homes
There were 57 separate locations for the fatalities in care homes and hospices
Government funding worth £5.7m announced to secure flights at Belfast City and City of Derry airports
The subsidy will maintain Aer Lingus and Loganair routes to Heathrow and London Southend
Tributes paid to well-known Give My Head Peace star
BJ Hogg has been described as a “a fine actor, great colleague and a true friend” following his death at the age of 65
Coronavirus: Churches in Northern Ireland split over when worshippers can safely return
Belfast Telegraph
Rev Steve Stockman from Fitzroy Presbyterian Church in south Belfast said he understands that people have “hit a wall” after six weeks of lockdown and
[[] https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-churches-in-northern-ireland-split-over-when-worshippers-can-safely-return-39171753.html ]
Tributes to man who built Northern Ireland’s ‘smallest church’
Belfast Telegraph
Tributes have been paid to a former mayor, teacher and minister who built what became known as Ireland’s smallest church. The Rev John McConnell
[[] https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tributes-to-man-who-built-northern-irelands-smallest-church-39172040.html ]
Loyalist bonfire builders create pallet tribute to NHS – Belfast News Letter
[[] https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/people/loyalist-bonfire-builders-create-pallet-tribute-nhs-2553435 ]
Very Reverend Tim Barker, Dean of Guernsey will lead a virtual service to mark the 75th anniversary of Guernsey’s World War Two liberation.
BBC News
[[] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-52472488 ]
Justin Welby: ‘The work of teachers is valuable beyond measure’
Times Educational Supplement
[[] https://www.tes.com/news/work-teachers-valuable-beyond-measure ]
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