| | Dear reader The number of people in Northern Ireland who have died after contracting Covid-19 has risen to 338, with nine more deaths having been reported in the last 24 hours. Health Minister Robin Swann revealed the latest statistics as he clarified that the lockdown rules still in force do not apply to children who live between different parents. Around Northern Ireland, the appreciation for the NHS continues to be demonstrated. Loyalist bonfire builders have cancelled their event in Portadown this year and created a tribute to the NHS from donated pallets instead It was sad to report the death of one of Northern Ireland’s oldest women on Wednesday. Ethel Barbour, who was 106, died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Cornfield Care Centre, Limavady. Stay safe, Alistair Bushe Editor Here are today’s headlines: The number of people to die in Northern Ireland after testing positive for COVID-19 has increased by nine to 338 in the last 24 hours, the Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed. - The latest number of deaths comes only a few hours after Health Minister, Robin Swann, confirmed the lockdown rules currently in place throughout Northern Ireland do not apply to children living between parents.
- A total of 24,359 tests have been carried out in Northern Ireland since the beginning of the crisis with 3,463 returning a positive result.
- The latest set of figures released by the DoH do not include all COVID-19 related deaths in care homes.
A doctor who has worked in one of Northern Ireland’s dedicated Covid-19 centres says medical staff there have almost nothing to do, whilst people with legitimate non-coronavirus symptoms are not visiting out of fear. - The doctor, whose identity the News Letter has agreed to withhold, recently performed a shift at a dedicated coronavirus ward in a large hospital and said that in a four-hour timeframe there were three doctors on duty and a dozen other medical staff.
- But the ward saw just three patients during this time – and none of them turned out to have Covid-19. The rest of the hospital has been “pretty much closed down” except for the Covid ward and emergency care, they said.
- There was so little to do that when a patient did eventually come in there was a “flurry of excitement” and all 15 staff gathered round.
- The doctor noted the “very highly-paid” status of the professionals who were manning the coronavirus ward, and said that such quiet levels of patient attendance has “been going on for weeks”.
Royal Mail announced that from May 2 it will reduce its service delivery by removing letter deliveries on Saturdays. - Tracked parcels and Special Delivery items and most parcel will still be delivered on Saturdays.
- Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Services Policy at The Consumer Council, said: “The Consumer Council understands this is a challenging time for all delivery key workers across Northern Ireland.
- “We recognise the great work of Royal Mail staff at this time, when consumers are more reliant than ever on their deliveries.
- “The change to withdrawing letter delivery on a Saturday should have minimal impact on consumers, but will allow Royal Mail the ability to better manage its network given the problems it is facing with corona-related absences and necessary social distancing.
A doctor who has almost 40 years’ experience has said now is the time to start beginning to return the levels of NHS care to the pre-lockdown levels. - Dr John Kyle, a PUP councillor for east Belfast and a long-time GP, was speaking to the News Letter to say he is aware of a “significant drop” in people attending his former surgery.
- Although he retired from his role as GP at the Lewis Square clinic in east Belfast last year, his daughter still works there and keeps him abreast of the situation.
- Dr Kyle said: “The surge hasn’t been of the magnitude that people feared.
- “And I think that does call for a re-think now on the part of how we use the resources that we have at our disposal in the health service.
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