NI may ease restrictions at different pace to other parts of the UK
Northern Ireland may emerge from coronavirus restrictions at a faster pace than other parts of the UK, the First Minister has suggested.
It is almost universally accepted that developing an effective means of contact tracing to track the spread of coronavirus offers a key route out of this crisis.
It was very encouraging to hear Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride tell the Stormont health committee on Thursday that an enhanced contact tracing programme will be piloted in NI from next week.
In some other positive news, NI health minister Robin Swann said extra critical care capacity is not expected to be needed in Northern Ireland during the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak. However, Mr Swann added that preparations would need to be made for a likely second wave of infections later in the year.
Charlie Poots, father of the current NI agriculture minister Edwin Poots, became a close friend of the late Rev Ian Paisley and survived a republican murder bid in 1976.
The death of Mr Poots came just a day after Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP MP for Lagan Valley, announced the death of his father, Jim Donaldson.
Coronavirus: High rate of non-Covid-19 deaths highlights concerns of indirect impact of virus
A Belfast-based professor says many people with life-threatening conditions may not be coming forward after it was revealed that 1,800 more people died in England and Wales than would have been expected to at this time of year – but not from coronavirus.
NI school staff form virtual choir to sing ‘Lean on Me’ to pupils in lockdown
Belfast Newsletter
The teachers at Rainey Endowed School formed a virtual choir to sing their version of the Bill Withers hit ‘Lean on Me.’ …
[[] https://www.newsletter.co.uk/education/ni-school-staff-form-virtual-choir-sing-lean-me-pupils-lockdown-2546806 ]
It’s official – NI to start planning for SECOND WAVE of COVID-19 infections due later this year
Belfast Newsletter
[[] https://www.newsletter.co.uk/health/coronavirus/its-official-ni-start-planning-second-wave-covid-19-infections-due-later-year-2547507 ]
Coronavirus: SF’s Declan Kearney blasted for ‘bonkers’ article on ‘capitalist greed’ during crisis
Belfast Newsletter
[[] https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/coronavirus-sfs-declan-kearney-blasted-bonkers-article-capitalist-greed-during-crisis-2546860 ]
DUP’s Donaldson reveals pain of being unable to visit father ‘fighting final battle’
Belfast Telegraph
[[] https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dups-donaldson-reveals-pain-of-being-unable-to-visit-father-fighting-final-battle-39145299.html ]
Orange Order buys PPE for healthcare staff across Ireland
The Irish News
[[] http://www.irishnews.com/paywall/tsb/irishnews/irishnews/irishnews//news/northernirelandnews/2020/04/21/news/orange-order-buys-ppe-for-healthcare-staff-across-reland-1910069/content.html ]
Knock priest visits 900 homes in 58 townlands in novel blessing ceremony
Western People
[[] https://westernpeople.ie/2020/04/20/knock-priest-visits-900-homes-in-58-townlands-in-novel-blessing-ceremony/ ]
DraggedImage.ff490b441b9a4ca4933f2bba9307e0ee.png
