Dear reader

We are now just a day away from hearing the Stormont Executive’s plan about how Northern Ireland is likely to exit from lockdown. 

It is believed that Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill will announce a strategic, phased approach. 

With Northern Ireland in lockdown until May 28, it promises to be a gradual process. However, there are suggestions that garden centres could reopen, with sports like angling, golf and tennis among those that may be allowed to resume soon. 

Amidst the diet of mostly negative news, it was wonderful to read the news that Robert Fullerton, one of the thousands of people across Northern Ireland to have been furloughed because of the coronavirus pandemic, was the Province’s latest National Lottery winner. 

The 30-year-old kitchen painter from Castledawson has won £300,000 on a scratchcard. He bought the ticket while out for an essential grocery shop. 

Congratulations to Robert from everyone at The News Letter. 

Stay safe 

Alistair Bushe
Editor

Latest news

• A worker at one of Northern Ireland's biggest meat processing factory has died after testing positive for COVID-19, according to a Unite the Union officialThe deceased was a woman in her fifties who worked on the production line at the Moy Park meat factory in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.
  There is no suggestion that Moy Park is responsible for either the transmission of the disease or the death of the woman.
  Moy Park has insisted that "robust" measures have been in place at the factory.
  Sean McKeever, Regional Officer for Unite, expressed sadness at the death of the woman and called on the Northern Ireland Executive to introduce emergency legislation to protect workers in meat processing factories.
  
  
• Ministers in Northern Ireland aim to publish their plan for exiting lockdown on Tuesday, First Minister Arlene Foster has said
  She said restrictions on outdoor activities would be eased before indoor ones.
  The DUP leader told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme the position around when to reopen schools has not yet been decided but suggested it could be in late August or early September.
  Mrs Foster said: “We looked at our medical evidence here in Northern Ireland and decided that, for the public health of the people of Northern Ireland, that we proceeded to reimplement those (coronavirus) regulations whilst at the same time looking at a road map for our destination to the new normal.
  “I don’t think there is any surprise at all that we are trying to make sure that that plan comes out, hopefully tomorrow if we get signed off.”
  
  
• A nursing home administrator has said staff are working “with every beat of our hearts” to keep the coronavirus out
  Susan Ringland, administrator of Beechvale Nursing Home in Killinchy, has given a touching account from inside the frontline of the battle against the coronavirus in Northern Ireland.
  While more than a quarter of the 484 registered care homes in Northern Ireland have now reported a coronavirus outbreak, Beechvale remains Covid-free.
  Ms Ringland said staff face a difficult battle to keep spirits high in the face of the virus.
  
  
• The owner of a local chain of garden centres has said he is hopeful they may be able to reopen their stores on Wednesday
  There has been speculation that garden centres in Northern Ireland may be able to reopen this week after Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated those in England could.
  The Northern Ireland Executive is expected to announce details of its plan to ease the region out of lockdown on Tuesday.
  Robin Mercer, owner of Hillmount Garden Centre, said they are currently doing around 30-40% of their usual trade through their website.
  They have three stores in Belfast, Newtownards and Bangor