Good evening,

It is the personal tragedies in the Covid-19 epidemic that make this so very real to all of us. 

Northern Ireland saw its most significant rise yet in the number of deaths connected to coronavirus on Sunday, with six people having been confirmed as having died in the space of 24 hours. 

It was revealed on Monday that among those to have lost their lives is the conductor of a local silver band, Bobbie Davidson. His grieving daughter Miriam Williams paid tribute to her father and urged people to abide by the strict regulations on social distancing.

These difficult times require difficult decisions to be made and the justice minister Naomi Long made one of those on Monday with news that 200 prisoners will be released from Northern Ireland’s prisons early.

The travel industry continues to suffer badly and Easyjet’s announcement that it is to ground its entire fleet will have massive implications for Belfast International Airport

Alistair Bushe

Editor 

Here are some of today’a main developments:

• Northern Ireland's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) has issued urgent advice to all community pharmacies in Northern Ireland concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. The advice was issued by CPO Cathy Harrison after pharmacies responded to the introduction of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 which was introduced here at 11.00pm on Saturday March 28, 2020.
• Tributes have poured in for loving Belfast couple Christopher Vallely (79), who was known as Arty, and his wife Isobel (77), who died within 12 hours of each in the same room at the Mater Hospital. The couple from west Belfast, who contracted coronavirus, were married 53 years. They both had underlying health conditions.
• A further 180 people in the UK have died in the last 24 hours after contracting coronavirus. The total now stands at 1,408. 

The following mental health helplines and websites are recommended by the NHS:

• Anxiety UK - 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5pm). www.anxietyuk.org.uk
• Mind - 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm). www.mind.org.uk
• Rethink Mental Illness - 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4pm). www.rethink.org
• Samaritans - 116 123 (24 hours). www.samaritans.org.uk