The death toll in NI has risen to 2,009 after another nine people have died with COVID-19.

Another new Covid variant has been detected in the UK

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Subscribe              Feb 16, 2021           Dear reader The wait is set to go on for parents who are anxiously wondering whether their children will return to the classroom as planned on March 8.  It had been expected that the Stormont Executive would announce on Thursday whether schools would return in Northern Ireland early next month after being closed since before Christmas to all but children of essential workers.  However, it is understood that that decision will not now take place until next week. The Education Minister Peter Weir has also indicated the final decision will not be his.  Some pupils are set to return to the classroom in Scotland next week, with Boris Johnson due to make an announcement on English schools early next as part of his route to recovery plan.  Meanwhile, the Department of Health has revealed that another nine people who tested positive for coronavirus have sadly died. That brings the total number of people who have died with the virus in Northern Ireland to 2,009. There have also been another 341 positive cases of Covid-19 recorded here over the last 24 hours.   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.           Death toll rises to 2,009 as 474 people treated in our hospitals for COVID-19           The death toll in NI has risen to 2,009 after another nine people have died with COVID-19.                 No date for NI school opening expected until next week despite Executive meeting on Thursday   The Northern Ireland Executive is not expected to announce a date for school reopening until next week, the News Letter understands.           'I want to extend my condolences to every family mourning the loss of a loved one'   Health Minister Robin Swann has extended his condolences to every family who lost a loved one due to COVID-19.           Business at NI courthouse suspended after 'incidence of Covid-19'   Court business in Newry was disrupted yesterday after what the Courts and Tribunals Service described as an "incidence of Covid-19" in the court.           Another new Covid variant has been detected in the UK - everything we know so far   Experts have identified a new mutation of coronavirus in the UK which researchers say should be targeted with surge testing.           Only severe asthma sufferers to be prioritised for Covid vaccine - how to tell if you're eligible   Only people with severe asthma will be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine, the government has confirmed.           Covid cases have dropped in nearly 95% of the UK - here's how regions compare   Covid-19 case rates have dropped across nearly 95 per cent of local authorities in the UK, new figures show.           Quarantine hotel guests will be charged up to £1,200 if they test positive for Covid - the costs in full   Travellers who have to stay in a quarantine hotel face an additional bill of £1,200 if they test positive for Covid-19, the government has announced.                 View more news

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