Coronavirus daily briefing: Thank you to our #HealthHeroes

Margaret Wilkinson celebrates her 99th birthday today in the confines of a Co Tyrone care home with her family unable to spend her special day with her.

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              Apr 9, 2020           Dear reader,   Today, both in our newspaper and on our website, we paid tribute to the heroes of the NHS, those people who are going to work every day on the front line, trying to keep us safe and risking their own health. Without them, this grim situation would be a lot worse. Thank you NHS!   It is imperative that all of our health workers receive the personal protective equipment they need and on that front it was disappointing to read that one care worker in the Western Trust says she was sick with worry over the lack of equipment provided for her and her colleagues as they visited different homes.    The lockdown is definitely not easier for our older readers, so we went out of our way this week to give one loyal reader a happy 99th birthday after a request from her family.   Margaret Wilkinson's family got in touch, asking could we publish a photograph of her in the News Letter to mark her birthday. Well, we went a few steps further and published this piece charting Margaret's eventful life. Happy birthday Margaret from everyone at The News Letter.    As the Easter weekend approaches, all of our politicians and healthcare professionals have asked everyone to continue to obey the restrictions. With good weather forecast, it is no doubt tempting to head off to one of Northern Ireland's many beauty spots, or to mix with family and friends.    But we need to keep our discipline for a while longer and support the NHS and save lives.    Alistair Bushe Editor           Family celebrates great grandmother's 99th birthday from a distance           Margaret Wilkinson celebrates her 99th birthday today in the confines of a Co Tyrone care home with her family unable to spend her special day with her.                 Four more people die after testing positive for COVID-19 in NI - death toll stands at 82 - number of people with virus in your area revealed   Another four people have died with COVID-19 in Northern Ireland.           Questions asked about 'social distancing' after crowds attend funeral of republican Francie McNally   Questions have been asked after around 200 people were seen attending the funeral of republican Francie McNally yesterday.           NI GP: Stop doctors having to make impossible calls over ventilators or hospital beds in battle against Covid-19   A Belfast doctor who is assessing Covid-19 patients face-to-face is urging the public to stay at home in a bid to help prevent a massive surge which could force medics into making impossible decisions.           NI home care worker 'sick with worry' over lack of PPE   A community care worker has said she can't sleep at night due to worries about the lack of equipment to protect her and those she cares for.           NI motorists stopped from crossing border as police target people ignoring COVID-19 lockdown rules   Some Northern Ireland motorists were refused entry into the Republic of Ireland on Thursday after Gardai (Irish police) deemed their journeys to be non-essential.           Northern Ireland's coronavirus lockdown to stay in place for 'foreseeable future'   Restrictions on movement in Northern Ireland will remain in place for the foreseeable future, a Stormont minister has said.                 View more on Coronavirus

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