NI Doctors leader call for 'total lockdown' + Six more Covid related deaths

Call for surge in testing care home staff as Covid outbreaks jump to 120

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Subscribe              Nov 3, 2020           Good afternoon The British Medical Association's NI chair Dr Tom Black has spoken out strongly in favour of tightening coronavirus restrictions. Talking on BBC Radio Ulster he went as far as saying that re-opening Northern Ireland's hospitality industry next week would be "an act of careless vandalism".  Dr. Black said "we need a full lockdown" and warned if one was not forthcoming it would result in doctors having to make calls on who to treat and who to not. These are some of the strongest warnings to come from the medical profession during the pandemic. The Commissioner for Older people has called for Covid testing of care homes staff to be increased from fortnightly to weekly after it was revealed that there are now 120 confirmed outbreaks across NI care homes. Sadly another six people have lost their lives after testing positive to coronavirus. That brings the total deaths in NI with the virus to 730. Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart has spoken in detail about his brush with the virus. he returned to Stormont for the first time this week after self-isolating. Stay safe Michael Cousins Deputy digital editor Please consider taking out a digital subscription to the News Letter for as little as £1 for three months.  Along with other benefits, as a subscriber you will now also have access to our new online puzzles with four brand new brain games every day - two crosswords (quick and cryptic), sudoku and a wordwheel. Check out your subscription options here.           Six more people die with COVID-19 in last 24 hours - 51 fighting for lives in ICU - 413 hospital beds taken with coronavirus patients - 117 infections in NI Care Homes           Anothersix people have died wqith COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, according to the Department of health.                 'We need a total and immediate lockdown' says chair of BMA in NI Dr. Tom Black - Call is at odds with message from First Minister Arlene Foster   A Northern Ireland school is asking parents to wear a face-covering if they have to go on to school grounds while dropping off or picking up their children.           MLA John Stewart reveals he had none of the classic symptoms after positive Covid-19 test   An Ulster Unionist MLA who tested positive for Covid-19 said he had none of the three classic symptoms of the virus.           Call for surge in testing care home staff as Covid outbreaks jump to 120   The Commissioner for Older people has called for Covid testing of care homes staff to be increased from fortnightly to weekly after it was revealed that there are now 120 confirmed outbreaks across NI care homes.           Education minister: Pupils will not face a repeat of the exams fiasco   There will be no repeat of the exams fiasco earlier endured by students earlier this year, Education Minister Peter Weir has said.           Printing problems leading to delay in new NI Covid enforcement notices   Tougher penalties agreed by the Stormont Executive for breaches of coronavirus restrictions are not yet law due to a delay in printing enforcement notices.           Over 1000 UK clerics urge Boris to keep English churches open during latest Coronavirus lockdown   Over 1000 clerics from across the UK - including around 50 Irish leaders - have signed a letter urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to close churches in England during a four week lockdown due to come into affect on Thursday.           Dame Esther award for Christine's virtual workouts   A Co Down woman who works for NSPCC Northern Ireland has been recognised for her hard work and dedication hosting daily workout sessions during lockdown to help raise funds for the leading children's charity.                 View more on Coronavirus

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