Northern Ireland churches put safety first for restart

Michelle O'Neill criticised as hundreds gather for funeral

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              Jun 30, 2020           Good afternoon  We are all aware of just how badly care homes have been hit by the coronavirus in Northern Ireland.  Deaths in care homes here account for around half of all Covid-19 related fatalities in Northern Ireland, but there has also been the issue of families being unable to visit their loved ones because of the real risk of further transmission of Covid-19.  So there will have been considerable interest in today's announcement from health minister Robin Swann, who said guidance for care homes to allow visits to resume again is currently being finalised. Mr Swann discussed the re-opening of homes to visitors with the chief nursing officer Charlotte McArdle on Tuesday morning and hopes to "sign off" on a set of guidelines she has produced in the near future. The news came as the Department of Health confirmed the news that there have been no further deaths in relation to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland during the last 24 hours. The death toll related to Covid-19 here remains at 551 while a further three new cases were confirmed.  Stay safe 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.           Northern Ireland churches put safety first for restart           As of yesterday church services were allowed to resume in Northern Ireland but it was far from an all-singing, all-dancing return.                 No deaths recorded - 3 test positive for virus - no Covid-19 patients in ICU   No deaths have been recorded in NI by the Department of Health in the last 24 hours.           NI childcare now available to all parents - measures include 'Play Pods' of up to 12 children   Health Minister Robin Swann and Education Minister, Peter Weir, have confirmed the definition of 'key worker' will no longer apply for access to childcare in Northern Ireland.           Michelle O'Neill criticised as hundreds gather for funeral of republican   A large crowd of mourners has gathered in west Belfast for the funeral service for veteran republican Bobby Storey.           NI secondary pupils could attend school just one week in every two in autumn   The education minister has expressed confidence he will be able to change school reopening plans during the summer to allow for a full return to the classroom in the autumn.           Enjoy a stay at home festival this weekend   On Saturday, July 4, Bangor County Down should have been hosting the third annual Seaside Revival Vintage Festival.           Coronavirus safety measures cause further setback to legacy inquest schedule   The first of the outstanding Troubles legacy inquests due to be held this year will not now take place before October, the presiding coroner has said.                 View more on Coronavirus

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