Second COVID-19 wave could be even more deadly than the first says Professor Chris Whitty

18 more deaths recorded in last 24 hours as data reveals 63% of people who died in Northern Ireland aged 80 and above

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              May 1, 2020           Dear reader As we reached the end of another dramatic week in the battle against coronavirus, there were two tales of Covid-19 survivors in Northern Ireland to warm the heart.  The family of Geoffrey McKillop, a 56-year-old father-of-three from Bushmills, has suffered several tragedies over the years, and were fearing another when, after suffering from Covid-19 at home for 10 days, Geoffrey was admitted to the ICU unit at Causeway Hospital and put on a ventilator.  However, the businessman has now recovered and when he was wheeled out of intensive care  on Tuesday, he received rapturous applause from doctors and nurses.  Another man who survived a harrowing ordeal as he battled the virus was Co Down man Jack McCullough. He had pneumonia in both lungs but has now overcome Covid-19. He told his story during a video put online by the Southern Health Trust.  While those stories will provide many of us with encouragement, there was more sobering news later on Friday as the deaths of another 18 people with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland were confirmed. Sadly, the death toll in the Province from people with Covid-19 has now reached 365. Stay safe, Alistair Bushe Editor     Here are today's headlines: Eighteen people in Northern Ireland have died after testing positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed. Four of the 18 newly recorded deaths occurred in the last 24 hours. The remaining 14 deaths have been recorded as having occurred outside of the last 24 hours. The report, which was published on Friday, takes the DoH death-toll to 365. Top scientist says traffic numbers 'show people getting lax about lockdown' amid optimism about contagion rate Speaking at a Stormont press conference last night Professor Ian Young, chief scientific advisor to the Department of Health, said that in terms of social distancing and other restrictions, there appears to be "a reasonably good" adherence to the policies. But he went on to say that "there is some evidence, particularly around traffic usage, which seems to suggest that adherence is declining slowly" The family of a Co Antrim businessman who has beaten Covid-19 has paid tribute to the doctors and nurses who helped him win the battle. Geoffrey McKillop, a 56-year-old father-of-three from Bushmills, was ill at home with COVID-19 for ten days before being taken to ICU in Causeway Hospital and ventilated for 16 days. His brother Stephen said: "We were told at one point he was not going to survive this. Our family have had trials and tribulations in the past. In short, losing Geoffrey would have been too much for us all to bear."           Coronavirus in NI care homes: 161 deaths recorded in 57 different care homes - total COVID-19 death-toll now more than 400           There is concern in Northern Ireland after it emerged that more than 50 per cent of the COVID-19 related deaths recorded between April 18 and 24 occurred in care homes.                 Coronavirus: 18 more deaths recorded in last 24 hours as data reveals 63% of people who died in Northern Ireland aged 80 and above   Eighteen people in Northern Ireland have died after testing positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed.           Second COVID-19 wave could be even more deadly than the first says Professor Chris Whitty   A second wave of COVID-19 infections could be even more deadly than the first if it arrives in winter, says Chief Medical Advisor to the government, Professor Chris Whitty.           Family of NI man Geoffrey McKillop grateful to be spared another tragedy after he beats coronavirus   The family of a Co Antrim businessman who has beaten Covid-19 has paid tribute to the doctors and nurses who helped him win the battle.           Coronavirus: NI man with COVID-19 thought he was in India when he was actually in hospital - Jack McCullogh praises and thanks NHS staff at Craigavon Area Hospital for caring for him   A Covid-19 survivor from Co Down has spoken of his harrowing ordeal and praised the hospital care team for saving his life.                 View more on Coronavirus

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