Steve McGookinThis round-up will appear weekly each Friday. The next update will be on April 17.
Friday April 10: Ministers move on PPE
The Executive is set to place a significant order with a Chinese manufacturer for personal protective equipment for frontline workers here, despite concerns over the possible quality of the goods. Finance Minister Conor Murphy said the Chinese supplier is “a reputable and quality company” and that the talks are “at an advanced stage.” Along with Health Minister Robin Swann, he said the Executive is doing all it can to mitigate any risks as it seeks to secure the necessary PPE, both locally and internationally.
Manufacturers ‘badly hit’
Other virus news items today, Friday April 10
Calls for hope & calls to action
Northern Slant will update this page to highlight some of the good news stories happening all around us, both here in Northern Ireland and further afield. We will also highlight how communities are responding to the crisis, sharing details of how you might be able to get involved yourself.
Calls for hope
Calls to action
Scroll down for other Calls from earlier in the week
- Keep up with the latest updates from the Northern Ireland Department of Health here
- And from Belfast City Council here
- Details of health service opening hours over the Easter weekend are here:
***
Thursday April 9: ‘Stay at home over Easter’
Heading into a crucial weekend in the use of social distancing to fight the Coronavirus, authorities have again stressed how important it is for people to stay home over the next few days. Popular visitor locations will be a particular target for increased police activity to prevent people travelling unnecessarily.
Shipyard siren sounds
The horn that used to signal the end of a shift at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast was heard across the city at 8pm tonight for the first time in 20 years as part of the response to the Thursday night âClapForCarersâ.
Other virus news items today, Thursday April 9
Calls for hope & calls to action
Northern Slant will update this page to highlight some of the good news stories happening all around us, both here in Northern Ireland and further afield.
We will also highlight how communities are responding to the crisis, sharing details of how you might be able to get involved yourself.
Calls for hope
Help for local foodbanks
Finding an online space to co-operate
Methody helps City Hospital staff
More rainbows are springing up across Northern Ireland
Sure weâre all going to the dogsâŠ
Calls to action
Advice for carers on how benefits may be affected
Tips on maintaining good well-being while staying at home
Information on getting food and medicines from home
And donât forget to support local journalismâŠ
(Scroll down for similar Calls from previous days this week)
- Keep up with the latest updates from the Northern Ireland Department of Health here
- And from Belfast City Council here
- Details of health service opening hours over the Easter weekend are here:
And donât forget there is an ongoing workforce appeal to help the Health Service when it needs it the mostâŠ
Do you have links to Coronavirus-related resources youâd like us to include? Let us know here.
***
Wednesday, April 8th
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said local restrictions on individual movement would stay in place âfor the foreseeable futureâ regardless of the expected review next week. Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots warned people not to travel to popular visitor locations over the Easter weekend, saying âsignificant numbersâ of police would be on patrol.
âYour good work by staying at home is saving lives,â he said.
Boost for binmen
And If youâre self-isolating, hereâs how you can help protect your waste collectors:
Other news items today, Wednesday April 8
Calls for hope & calls to action
As this pandemic progresses, keeping up with the latest news can be overwhelming. The sheer number of developments, and their sobering magnitude, can leave us feeling helpless and exhausted.
Here at Northern Slant we will update this page to highlight some of the good news stories that are happening all around us, both here in Northern Ireland and further afield.
We will also highlight how communities are responding to the crisis, sharing details of how you might be able to get involved yourself.
We hope you will find these calls for hope and calls to action a useful set of resources during these challenging times.
Calls for Hope
90-year-old thanks NHS staff for treatment
Social distancing doesnât stop this three-year-old from spreading joy
Calls to Action
Antrim playing their part
Technology department at Lisburn school makes personal protective equipment
Red Cross supports Belfast Trust with volunteers and supplies
Resources for parents covering special education needs
Some essential workers are needed in retail and manufacturing
Small businesses are entitled to vital financial support
- Keep up with the latest updates from the Northern Ireland Department of Health here
- And from Belfast City Council here
- Details of health service opening hours over the Easter weekend are here:
And donât forget there is an ongoing workforce appeal to help the Health Service when it needs it the mostâŠ
Do you have links to Coronavirus-related resources youâd like us to include? Let us know here.
***
Tuesday April 7: City Hospital Prepares For Surge
The first patients were set to be admitted to the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London today.
Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann visited Belfast’s City Hospital Tower in Belfast. The 230-bed facility is designated as Northern Irelandâs first âNightingaleâ hospital and is gearing up to receive its first Covid-19 patients. Further surge capacity plans also include development of critical care capacity at the Altnagelvin and Ulster Hospital sites.
Meanwhile, patients in Northern Ireland are being recruited to participate in a series of NHS clinical trials on Covid-19. The trials will include patients in primary care, hospital care and intensive care units.
Other items from Twitter today, Tuesday 7th April
Calls for hope & calls to action
As this pandemic progresses, keeping up with the latest news can be overwhelming. The sheer number of developments, and their sobering magnitude, can leave us feeling helpless and exhausted.
Here at Northern Slant we will update this page to highlight some of the good news stories that are happening all around us, both here in Northern Ireland and further afield.
We will also highlight how communities are responding to the crisis, sharing details of how you might be able to get involved yourself.
We hope you will find these calls for hope and calls to action a useful set of resources during these challenging times.
Calls for hope
Local companies and organisations contributing personal protection equipment for NHS staff
Belfast school joins forces with hospital
Behind the scenes in the food and drink industry
No rough sleeping in our main towns and cities
The Easter Bunny has been designated an essential worker by New Zealandâs Prime Minister
Calls to action
The Community Foundation is putting together a database of services
Bikers have volunteered to deliver essential goods to those in need
Books delivered to children in care
How to get food and medicine deliveries
Support for small businesses
- Keep up with the latest updates from the Northern Ireland Department of Health here:
- And from Belfast City Council here:
And don’t forget there is an ongoing workforce appeal to help the Health Service when it needs it the most…
Do you have links to Coronavirus-related resources youâd like us to include? Let us know here.
***
Mon April 6: PM in intensive care
Boris Johnson was moved to a critical care unit at St Thomasâ Hospital on Monday evening, after his Covid-19 symptoms apparently worsened. He has been in the hospital near Westminster since Sunday, being admitted with âpersistent symptomsâ after testing positive last Thursday. Johnson apparently asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise for him âwhere necessaryâ.
Meanwhile, Labourâs shadow Northern Ireland secretary Tony Lloyd was admitted to hospital in Manchester with Coronavirus symptoms.
Medical equipment arrives
A shipment of items of protective equipment for medical staff arrived in Northern Ireland today and was in the process of being distributed from a warehouse in Belfast. The equipment, dispatched by the British government following a statement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Friday, includes hospital aprons and respirator masks.
Meanwhile, police said a man has been arrested as part of their investigation into âthreatening and offensive commentsâ directed towards Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann.
Twelfth of July parades cancelled
The Orange Order announced that all Twelfth of July parades at 17 venues across Northern Ireland would be cancelled âin keeping with current government health advice on restricting gatherings.â First Minister Arlene Foster said the decision was a âresponsible step.â The parades were cancelled during the two world wars and the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918.
Other items from Twitter today, Monday 6th April
This page will be the location for Northern Slantâs rolling list of Coronvirus resources â it will be updated daily with latest news items and links to helpful sites.
And don’t forget there is an ongoing workforce appeal to help the Health Service when it needs it the most…
Do you have links to Virus-related resources youâd like us to include? Let us know here.