Michael Cousins Acting Managing Editor

Good afternoon

Welcome to your afternoon Coronavirus email update from the News letter.

First Minister Paul Givan has said he does not expect to see all remaining Covid restrictions in Northern Ireland lifted at this week’s Executive meeting. He was speaking just as the latest Covid key stats show four further deaths of patients who had tested positive for the illness in Northern Ireland. The Department of Health said there had also been 1,145 new confirmed cases in the last 24-hour reporting period. On Tuesday morning there were 384 Covid-19 patients in hospital, with 32 in intensive care.

Northern Ireland’s health service is set to topple over without immediate action from the Stormont Executive, Michelle O’Neill has warned. The deputy First Minister said healthcare staff were physically and mentally exhausted after 18 months battling Covid-19 and were fearful about what was facing them as winter approaches.

In order to “strike a balance” between safeguarding children’s education and the need to contain Covid-19 in schools the Public Health Agency said a “more targeted approach” to contact tracing will be used. It comes after NIPSA called for clarity on contact tracing in schools and five further Covid deaths were reported in NI.

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