NI Covid restrictions extended for a further four weeks

Members of all the four main unionist parties (DUP, UUP, TUV and PUP) have issued statements decrying a missive from the trade union Unison concerning the deployment of the Army to fight Covid-19.

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Subscribe              Jan 21, 2021           Dear reader,   Northern Ireland's lockdown has been extended for at least another month, after proposals from Health Minister Robin Swann were rubber stamped by the Executive on Thursday.    The current lockdown was due to end on February 6 but it was always understood that this would be reviewed with a view to whether it would be cut short or extended.    Mr Swann, who on Wednesday had warned that it was "not the time to open the floodgates", had recommended that the lockdown be extended to March 5.    Nationally, Prime Minister Boris Johnson conceded on Thursday that lockdown restrictions may not end in spring. Mr Jonnson said the government would be able to look again at restrictions in mid-February when it is expected that the four priority groups should have received the vaccine.    The Department of Health revealed on Thursday that another 21 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland have died.  Another 732 new cases of the virus have been detected over the last 24 hours, according to department figures. There are 806 Covid-positive patients in Northern Ireland's hospitals, with 70 people in intensive care. 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.             All pro-Union parties react to Unison statement on Covid Army medics           Members of all the four main unionist parties (DUP, UUP, TUV and PUP) have issued statements decrying a missive from the trade union Unison concerning the deployment of the Army to fight Covid-19.                 Unison says it does not object to military support in Covid fight following backlash over 'shameful' statement   Unison Northern Ireland has said it does not object to receiving assistance from military personnel to help with the coronavirus pandemic after an earlier statement questioning Stormont's decision to bring in the Army sparked a backlash.           Military staff will support services at NI's Nightingale facility, says health chief   Military staff will support work at Northern Ireland's regional Nightingale facility, a health trust chief has said           21 new Covid-19 deaths as total number of infections edges closer to 100,000   The Department of Health (DoH) has recorded an additional 21 Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours.           LIVE BLOG: 'Very scary' development in NI as more younger people admitted to hospital with Covid-19   The Northern Ireland Executive looks set to extend the current six week lockdown which started on December 26, 2020 by additional four weeks, according to sources.           Eye issues could be early Covid infection warning sign - symptoms to look out for   Sore and itchy eyes could be an early sign warning sign of a Covid-19 infection, new findings suggest.           Matt Hancock says the Covid jab 'doesn't work immediately' and that recipients must remain cautious   Health Secretary Matt Hancock has urged people to continue to be cautious after they have received a Covid vaccination, as it does not work immediately.           Biggest ever London Marathon expected to go ahead this year - the date and plans so far   Ambitious plans for this year's London Marathon have been announced, which aims to be the biggest ever.           OPINION: Maybe Van Morrison could visit a hospital hard-hit by Covid   So Sir Van Morrison is to legally challenge Stormont's "blanket ban" on live music in licensed venues because of coronavirus restrictions.           War veteran at Mossley Mill for Covid-19 vaccination   A 99-year-old war veteran was among those receiving the Covid-19 vaccination in Newtownabbey this week.           Did Christmas party at bin depot lead to disruption in services?   A Christmas party, held at the Technical Services depot in Portadown, led to up to 21 members of staff self isolating, it has been claimed.                 View more news

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