Daily coronavirus briefing: Letter from the editor

Plans to increase coronavirus testing for self-isolating health workers, and to increase the availability of personal protection equipment (PPE), have been welcomed by senior health professionals.

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              Mar 20, 2020           Good evening,   It goes without saying that these are unprecedented times for all of us.  In a first for the News Letter on Wednesday, our entire newspaper and website were produced away from the office as our teams worked entirely from home.  It was a radically different way of working, but virtually empty newsrooms may become the norm in the weeks to come.  Despite the obvious challenges, we will endeavour to cover the coronavirus crisis in a measured and accurate way, both on our website and in our newspaper. Alistair Bushe Editor  Here are today's key points: There are now 86 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Northern Ireland. Nine new cases were identified in the last 24 hours. Yesterday it was confirmed that an elderly patient with underlying health problems had died of the illness. Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, has cut Northern Ireland's public transport provision in order to battle the spread of COVID-19. From Monday March 23, Translink Bus Services (Ulsterbus, Metro and Glider) will operate a reduced timetable and NI Railways will operate a Sunday timetable. Prime Minister Boris Johnston has told pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants to close from tonight in a strengthening of measures to tackle the outbreak. Venues such as nightclubs, cinemas and gyms will also follow suit. Takeaways will remain open. Chancellor Rishi Sunak says he is deferring VAT for all businesses until the end of June. He added the government will pay 80 per cent of wages for employees not working, up to £2,500 a month. The full list of 'key workers' announced by the government can be found here               Coronavirus: Royal Colleges want urgent action on protective equipment           Plans to increase coronavirus testing for self-isolating health workers, and to increase the availability of personal protection equipment (PPE), have been welcomed by senior health professionals.                 Principal uses Toy Story to explain coronavirus situation to schoolchildren   The principal of a primary school in Northern Ireland has written to pupils explaining the impact of coronavirus using Toy Story.           Pastor tells how he survived virus   aA church pastor with underlying health conditions has told how he survived with a bout of suspected Coronavirus - and why his faith gives him a message of hope.                 View more on Coronavirus

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