Sam McBride analyses Executive’s new strategy + All the latest coronavirus restrictions listed

88% of all NI's intensive care unit beds occupied as two men and two women die

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Subscribe              Oct 14, 2020           Dear reader We now know that at least four weeks of intensified coronavirus restrictions are on the way for Northern Ireland.  That is the worrying reality facing us all after Arlene Foster, the first minister, confirmed overnight speculation about schools closing for an extra week and the hospitality sector facing at least a month with its doors closed.  Here is a full list of the restrictions, which include school closures across the Province from Monday, October 19. The reaction from the hospitality industry has understandably been one of concern.  Sam McBride, our political editor, did a spot analysis piece on the Stormont restrictions, as he identifies two fundamental difficulties at the heart of the Executive's new strategy.  Later in the day, four more coronavirus related deaths in Northern Ireland were announced, with the Department of Health confirming that another 1,217 new cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed over the last 24 hours. This is a record for Northern Ireland but it is worth noting that testing capacity for Covid-19 far outweighs the first wave of the virus in March.  One of those who passed away was between 60 and 77 years old while the remaining three people were all aged over 80 years old. Stay safe  Alistair Bushe 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.             Sam McBride: NI Executive in a weaker position to deliver a more complicated form of limited lockdown           As Stormont approves restrictions which now are closer to the full lockdown of March than to the near-normality of the late summer, there are two fundamental difficulties at the heart of the new strategy.                 Two men and two women die in NI after testing positive for Covid-19   Two men and two women in Northern Ireland have died after testing positive for Covid-19.           88% of all NI's intensive care unit beds are now occupied - Four people die after testing positive for Covid-19 - 1,217 new infections in last 24 hours   There are only 13 unoccupied intensive care unit beds left in Northern Ireland.           Warning 'many in hospitality sector may not survive' second lockdown   The latest lockdown will have a devastating effect on the hospitality sector, says the manager of an NI bar.           Coronavirus patients to be moved into Belfast Nightingale   The Belfast Trust is to begin moving coronavirus patients into the Tower Block at Belfast City Hospital due to the demand on intensive care, the News Letter can reveal.           Murphy opens North West financial support scheme   A new financial support scheme for businesses affected by restrictions which came into effect on October 5 in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area has opened for applications.           FULL document released this morning from the NI Executive as it tightens restrictions to curb Covid-19   FULL document released this morning from the NI Executive as it tightens restrictions to curb Covid-19           Covid test result delay stalls lorry deaths trial of two NI men at Old Bailey   The Old Bailey trial of an alleged people smuggling ring linked to the deaths of 39 migrants in a lorry container has stalled over a missing Covid-19 test result.           This is why your child is not told to self-isolate when a student in their class tests positive for Covid-19   There are instances in Northern Ireland when your son or daughter will not be deemed a 'close contact' should one of their classmates test positive for Covid-19 - this is why.                 View more on Coronavirus

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