NI schools to remain closed until March 8 at the earliest

Nearly half-a-million more people in Northern Ireland will be offered vaccines in the coming weeks, the head of the vaccination programme has said.

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Subscribe              Jan 28, 2021           Dear reader,   The body representing Northern Ireland's GPs has expressed concern over the supply of the coronavirus vaccine here.    It was only on Wednesday that we were told that the rollout of the vaccine to the over-65s and people who are clinically vulnerable was getting under way in what appeared to be a massive boost to the programme.    Northern Ireland's chief vaccination officer predicted that around 500,000 people will be vaccinated here by March, but now the Royal College of GPs have struck a less optimistic note about the rollout.    Dr Laurence Dorman, the chair of the organisation, said his members have a "concern" about the speed of the rollout to those in vulnerable groups amidst fears about supplies of the vaccine.    The Department of Health meanwhile has revealed that another 13 people with coronavirus have died over the last 24 hours.    Eight of these deaths occurred within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council area.      Digital+ and Print/Digital+ subscribers can now access the News Letter online digital edition on desktop.   It's available at https://app.newsletter.co.uk     Digital only subscribers can upgrade to access the eReader   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.             Covid-19 vaccinations for almost 500,000 in NI within weeks: Patricia Donnelly           Nearly half-a-million more people in Northern Ireland will be offered vaccines in the coming weeks, the head of the vaccination programme has said.                 LIVE BLOG: It's now official - NI schools will NOT reopen until after March 5 - Health chiefs defend AstraZeneca jab as Germany set to limit it to under-65s - Click and collect for independent retailers under 'active consideration'   The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed to extend school closures to March 8 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.           Symptoms including a sore throat are 'more common' for new Covid variant sufferers - the full list   A cough, muscle pain, fatigue and a sore throat could be more common in those who test positive for the new UK variant of Covid.           Eight deaths recorded in single NI council area in 24 hours   One of Northern Ireland's 11 local government districts has recorded eight additional Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours.           NI opts out of emergency powers to put student nurses on front line of coronavirus pandemic: Despite NHS crisis we're not at the 'same stage' as England says chief nursing officer   Northern Ireland's nursing chief has opted out of emergency powers used in England to draft student nurses onto the front lines of the battle with coronavirus.           NI coronavirus vaccine roll-out: GPs raise concern about supply amid worry of speed of roll-out to 'higher priority groups'   The Royal College of GPs in Northern Ireland has spoken out about concerns over the supply of vaccines.           New Covid antibody drug found to prevent 100% of symptomatic infections in NHS trials   A new Covid-19 drug has been found to prevent 100 per cent of symptomatic infections during trials on the NHS.           Pfizer Covid vaccine is effective against UK and South African variants - new study explained   Pfizer and BioNTech have both confirmed that their vaccine is effective against both the UK and South African variants of Covid.           Coronavirus vaccination roll-out: Online booking system for over 65s hit by "high volume" as thousands get booked in   Pensioners were left struggling with a new online system to book coronavirus vaccines this week after the portal was swamped with traffic as soon as it launched.           100,000 international passengers pass through Belfast International Airport during pandemic   More than 100,000 international passengers have passed through Belfast International Airport during the pandemic, figures suggest.           Six republican funerals and counting – but still no action over first one   No action has been taken against anyone involved in the very first republican funeral of the Covid-19 pandemic – that of Francie McNally on April 8 last year.                 View more news

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