Highest weekly number of Covid-19 deaths since beginning of pandemic recorded by NISRA

Good morning
In the news today:
* The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has reported its highest number of Covid-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic last year.
* NI people smugglers facing life sentences for 39 migrant deaths.
* A prominent Orangeman has issued a scathing attack on unionist parties for what he sees as the paucity of public funding given to Orange Halls compared to the GAA and Irish language.
* Problems with the Northern Ireland protocol were predictable and had been foreseen, the First Minister has said.
* The Education Minister, Peter Weir, has said he will decide next week whether to keep schools in Northern Ireland closed until March 5 or not.

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Stay safe
Michael Cousins
Deputy digital editor