'I'm on bended knees praying our lives don't get any tougher': mum of autistic teenager reveals impact of the pandemic on their lives

Nov 18, 2020

Dear reader,

A hospital to rehabilitate recovering Covid-19 patients is due to open in Co Antrim on Friday.

The Nightingale facility at Whiteabbey Hospital is for those who are well enough to leave acute medical services but would benefit from care which cannot be provided at home. The facility was visited by Health Minister Robin Swann on Wednesday.

New figures have revealed that Covid-19 has been the underlying cause of 808 deaths in Northern Ireland this year.

According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra), there have been 902 deaths this year where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The agency says this would indicate that the virus was the primary cause of death in 89.6 per cent of all deaths which mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate.

The statistics also show that cancer deaths in Northern Ireland are up significantly on last year.

Another 11 Covid-19 related deaths have been recorded in Northern Ireland, with 518 people diagnosed with the virus over the last 24 hours. A total of 452 people with Covid-19 are being treated in hospital with 44 of those in intensive care.

Stay safe

Alistair Bushe,

Editor

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