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This is your Coronavirus update from the News Letter. 

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On the day that Northern Ireland should be celebrating the first easing of Coronvirus restrictions the fallout from the Bobby Storey funeral continues to dominate the news in Northern Ireland. Stormont’s deputy First Minister offered a “heartfelt and unreserved apology” to families bereaved in the pandemic for her actions in relation to her attendance at a large republican funeral.

However, Arlene Foster has said ‘Sinn Fein calls for equality, respect and integrity but actually demonstrates the opposite’

As the controversy looks set to rumble on a leading doctor has said Northern Ireland “can’t stay locked down forever” and expressed hope that the vaccination roll-out could stave off the threat of another wave of coronavirus.
Dr Alan Stout, the chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee in Northern Ireland, also stressed that authorities must be prepared to “slow down” and “halt” the easing of lockdown if infection rates do begin to increase.

Joining the call for caution the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland Dr Michael McBride and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Ireland Dr Ronan Glynn have jointly appealed to the public to continue to follow public health advice to ensure everyone can have a safe Easter.
“Unfortunately, this Easter, we still have a very dangerous, very transmissible virus, circulating in our communities that continues to spread and cause serious illness and, sadly, death.

As we ease out from lockdown NI golfers return to courses with a ‘spring in their step’. 
Golf courses reopened for the first time since December 26, however clubhouses remained closed as part of the Stormont Executive’s gradual emergence from lockdown.

You can read how the latest changes affect us all here. 

Have a good day

Michael Cousins

Deputy digital editor