Spike in infections as 43 people test positive for COVID-19

R number as high as 1.8

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              Aug 6, 2020           Dear reader Today brought the sad news that a Ballymoney schoolboy has died following an incident at a waterfall while on holiday in Wicklow. Lewis Fleming, 15, was a pupil at Coleraine Grammar School and our thoughts go to his family and friends. We also report how a gang of men poured fuel over a delivery driver before setting his truck alight in a third night of violence in Londonderry. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact upon the lives of many across Northern Ireland and has caused a number of business premises to shut their doors in recent days following positive tests by staff members. Retail, entertainment and food outlets in a number of areas have been affected by the closures. The Department of Health revealed the current estimate of R is 0.8 – 1.8. R represents the number of individuals who, on average, will be infected by a single person with the infection. A rate above 1 shows the number of infections is growing.  Thankfully there have been no more reported coronavirus deaths in NI with the figure remaining at 556 but it has been confirmed that 43 new COVID-19 infections have been identified.   Further information released by the Public Health agency has revealed that there are currently 11 active Covid-19 clusters in Northern Ireland. A cluster is currently defined as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 among individuals associated with a key setting, with illness onset dates within a 14 day period. 23 clusters have been identified during the pandemic and 168 cases have been confirmed within those clusters.  9 of those have involved 5 or more people with 4 recorded in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area, 3 in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area and 1 each in Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Ards and North Down Borough Council areas.  Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus can book a free test. For further information on the virus, its symptoms and how to book a test, visit www.pha.site/coronavirus     Keep safe Michael Cousins Deputy digital editor Want total access to all of our online content? You can subscribe to our website, newsletter.co.uk for just £1 a month for 3 months - and it couldn't be easier. Signing up will get you faster-loading articles, fewer adverts and access to exclusive content and events when we run them. To learn more, visit our Subscriptions page here.           11 active COVID-19 clusters in NI | Large spike in infections as 43 people test positive for COVID-19 in last 24 hours           The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact upon the lives of many people from every part of Northern Ireland.                 Leading the way with pandemic research   The Southern Trust is making a significant contribution to international COVID-19 research.           Stop Covid NI app downloaded 170,000 times in just a week   Almost 20% of the adult population in Northern Ireland has downloaded a smartphone app to track the spread of coronavirus.           Bakery closes two of its shops in light of the coronavirus pandemic   NI Bakery has closed two of its shops following a restructuring of the business in light of the coronavirus pandemic.           School left devastated after NI teenager dies on holiday in Wicklow   A Ballymoney schoolboy has died following an incident at a waterfall while on holiday in Wicklow.           Rioters pour fuel over man and set his truck alight   A gang of men poured fuel over a delivery driver before setting his truck alight in a third night of violence in Londonderry.                 View more on Coronavirus

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