Executive considers further restrictions as NI Covid death toll passes 900

Pubs across Northern Ireland and the Republic will simultaneously switch on Christmas lights this Friday at 5pm.

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Subscribe              Nov 19, 2020           Dear reader,   With the easing of some coronavirus restrictions just a matter of hours away in Northern Ireland, the Stormont Executive looks set to impose fresh measures designed to slow the spread of the virus.    Coffee shops and hairdressers are due to reopen on Friday, but new measures on the way could be the introduction of localised travel restrictions.    Mixed signals continue to come from our political parties, with the DUP's position having apparently shifted in recent days. Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson gave radio interviews early on Thursday in which he hinted that his party would be prepared to accept tighter restrictions, a week after it vetoed proposals to that effect from Robin Swann, the health minister.   The prevailing feeling seems to be that the existing restrictions have not been effective enough, with the number of deaths related to Covid-19 and the number of new infections still above what the Executive had hoped for at this stage of the lockdown.    To that end, the deaths of another 12 people, 10 women and two men, relating to the virus were recorded over the last 24 hours. In addition, there have been 487 new infections, which is down from 518 the previous day.    We continue to wait on an announcement from the Executive tonight.    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.           Pubs across NI and Ireland to switch on Christmas lights simultaneously           Pubs across Northern Ireland and the Republic will simultaneously switch on Christmas lights this Friday at 5pm.                 Local travel restrictions among beefed-up measures being considered by Executive   Stormont ministers are considering ramped-up coronavirus restrictions amid a warning that a failure to take action will see hospitals overwhelmed next month.           LIVE BLOG: The latest coronavirus news and how it will affect you   The Association of Secondary Teachers in the Republic of Ireland (ASTI) has warned that schools may be forced to close over the winter months due to ventilation and heating issues.           Hospital health staff 'at breaking point' says union   Some staff at Craigavon Hospital are 'at breaking point' working 13 hours shifts and suffering from PPE fatigue, according to a health workers' union.           Ballymena club swimmers 'disappointed' by ongoing pool closure   The head coach of Ballymena Swimming Club has described the ongoing closure of the pool at Seven Towers Leisure Centre as "disappointing".           MP to speak to Education Minister after another school closes due to COVID-19   An MP is to speak to the NI Education Minister after another school in the Upper Bann constituency is forced to close due to postive COVID-19 tests.           Next year's Sidecarcross Grand Prix at Desermartin deferred until 2022   The eagerly awaited Sidecarcross Grand Prix of Northern Ireland scheduled for Desertmartin in July 2021 has been deferred until 2022 because of uncertainty around the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.                 View more on Coronavirus

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