Coronavirus briefing: Extra cash considered for care homes

Calls to reopen cemeteries, even for a few hours a day, have been made by an Upper Bann MLA who has been receiving calls from 'very distressed' constituents.

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              Apr 21, 2020           Good evening, The lockdown in force across Northern Ireland of course has come at a human cost, as was underlined by the Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson on Tuesday.  Mr Donaldson told the Nolan Show that a Northern Ireland pensioner impaled himself on cemetery railings after trying to climb in to visit the grave of a loved one during lockdown. The restrictions on visiting cemeteries in the Province continue to cause divisions and stir emotions.  At Stormont, there was also fierce debate about the restrictions as MLAs described aspects of the coronavirus lockdown law as draconian, scary, anti-human rights, cruel, outrageous and preposterous. However, they then unanimously passed the legislation. The one blessing during the lockdown has been the almost unprecedented spell of great weather we have been enjoying. Forecasters said today that the sunshine will continue with temperatures expected to reach 20 degrees by Friday.  Stay safe, Alistair Bushe, Editor Here some of today's main headlines: It was announced today that a further nine people have died with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. Health Minister Robin Swann said: "We must never forget that behind every death there are families and friends, so let me convey my deepest sympathies to them."  Extra cash to prop up private care homes is being considered by the Department of Health at Stormont, the News Letter can reveal.This comes after the owner of a number of Northern Ireland care homes warned that many providers are likely to be "teetering on the brink" of financial ruin due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Department of Health has now confirmed to the News Letter that it is "working to identify financial support" that might be needed to prop up the sector. Europe captain Padraig Harrington says he and USA counterpart Steve Stricker are not in favour of the Ryder Cup being played behind closed doors. The biennial competition is, for the moment at least, scheduled to go ahead in September at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. The latest official figures for coronavirus related hospital deaths show a further 823 people have died in the UK, taking the total to 17,337. The latest advice on how to look after yourself and your family during the pandemic can be found here at the Public Health Agency's website           Calls from 'very distressed' constituents prompts MLA's plea to reopen graveyards           Calls to reopen cemeteries, even for a few hours a day, have been made by an Upper Bann MLA who has been receiving calls from 'very distressed' constituents.                 Loyal orders donate PPE to hospitals   A significant amount of money has been raised by Killyman District Orange and Black Chapters in the fight against COVID-19.           NI nurses press phone to ear of dying man with COVID-19 to receive last rites from priest   Nurses working in a Northern Ireland hospital pressed a telephone to the ear of a dying man with COVID-19 so that he could listen to a priest giving him the last rites.                 View more on Coronavirus

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