Some NI retailers 'better off closed' as a result of circuit-breaker downturn in trade

Oct 22, 2020

Dear reader,

The Irish Football Association is planning on allowing at least 600 supporters to attend Northern Ireland’s European Championship play-off final against Slovakia next month.

The start of the Irish Premier League season was overshadowed by an ongoing debate over whether fans should be permitted inside grounds.

But the IFA chief executive Patrick Nelson said he believed 600 to 1,000 fans could be safely accommodated in the National Stadium at Windsor Park within the current regulations for the match on November 12.

The news comes as another five deaths related to coronavirus were recorded in Northern Ireland over the previous 24 hours.

With another 1,024 new infections recorded in the same period, Northern Ireland has passed the 30,000 mark for positive cases of coronavirus.

The other big talking point of the day was the number of Stormont MLAs being forced to self-isolate. Finance Minister Conor Murphy confirmed on Thursday that he was self-isolating after a family member tested positive for the virus.

Mr Murphy’s statement follows confirmation that MLAs John Stewart, Pam Cameron, Andy Allen and Trevor Lunn are all having to self-isolate.

Stay safe.

Alistair Bushe,

Editor

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