'Health advice is as relevant now as when it was first issued - if not more so'

Good afternoon,

As each day passes, little by little, we continue to emerge from the lockdown that so restricted our lives over the previous three months.

On Friday it was the turn of gyms, cinemas and bingo halls in Northern Ireland to reopen their doors after being closed since the end of March.

While this is undoubtedly good news, some people have questioned some of the restrictions that will remain in place.

In particular, local cricket clubs have been left mystified and disappointed by the Executive’s statement that no spectators will be allowed to attend matches when competitive play resumes on July 18. Local cricket is watched by modest crowds who can easily socially distance around large cricket grounds.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Health, Northern Ireland continues to record no new deaths relating to Covid-19, with no new deaths having been reported in more than a week. The number of people who have died here with Covid-19 remains at 554.

The most recent statistics released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) on Friday morning revealed that more than 40 per cent of deaths here relating to Covid-19 occurred in care homes.

Stay safe and enjoy your weekend

Alistair Bushe, Editor

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