Coronavirus briefing: Steep rise in Northern Ireland deaths

Apr 3, 2020

Dear reader,

The news that reached us on Friday afternoon was very sobering indeed. The latest statistics show that Northern Ireland suffered 12 Covid-19 related deaths over the last 24 hours, which is double the biggest number of deaths that we had previously seen in a single day.

The news came during an eventual day in the Stormont Executive. Sinn Fein has accused Health Minister Robin Swann of acting too slowly over coronavirus, but Mr Swann has received backing from First Minister Arlene Foster.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy is also under pressure as he was asked questions over a deal with the Irish government for personal protection equipment (PPE).

I wish you a pleasant a weekend as possible. Take care.

Alistair Bushe, Editor

Here are some of the day's main updates:

The number of people to die in Northern Ireland after testing positive for Coronavirus COVID-19 has increased by 33 per cent in the last 24 hours. Twelve people have died across Northern Ireland taking the total number of deaths to 48. There was also an additional 130 confirmed cases of the deadly virus in the last 24 hours taking the total number of infected in Northern Ireland to 904.
The Northern Health Trust intends to hold a public service of remembrance for those who pass during the pandemic, the timing yet to be decided. The announcement follows the appearance of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust’s Chief Executive, Dr Cathy Jack, before Stormont’s health committee. Dr Jack told the committee that, within the Belfast Trust, palliative care nurses would write to relatives of those who die with no family present. The letter, she said, would explain how they passed away and include anything they said in their final moments.
There have been 684 more coronavirus deaths in the UK in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths recorded so far to 3,605. The latest figures were announced this afternoon by the Department of Health and Social Care.
The main symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature and a new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual). Further details can be found here at the NHS website
If you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms you should stay at home. This is called self-isolation. If you have the symptoms you should self-isolate for at least seven days. If someone else in your household has the symptoms you should stay at home for 14 days. Further self-isolation guidance can be found here


	Coronavirus: NI death toll increases by 33 per cent in 24 hours as 12 more people die after testing positive for COVID-19

	The number of people to die in Northern Ireland after testing positive for Coronavirus COVID-19 has increased by 33 per cent in the last 24 hours.

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