Jamie PowWelcome to Northern Slant’s weekly round-up of local virus-related items you might have missed. The next update will appear on 17 July. Previous updates are here, for the weeks ending:
26 June, 19 June, 12 June, 5 June;
You might like to read the thoughts of some of our contributors – and perhaps add your own – on ‘Hopes for Northern Ireland.’
See Also:
- Will mental health issues be the next wave? by Kevin McAteer – 7 July
- Putting wellbeing at the centre of our ‘build back better’ recovery by Lauren Pennycook (Carnegie Trust) – 6 July
- Surgery and Trauma: A Junior Doctor’s Perspective of Lockdown and Why We Can’t Repeat it by Josh Eves – 18 June
- Lockdown lore, from Indonesia to Newry by Fionnbharr Rodgers – 16 June
- How churches can continue to function during lockdown by Jason Sime – 6 May
- The impact of Covid-19 on farming and food production by Ben McAteer – 5 May
- From ‘Flattening the Curve’ to ‘Bending the Curve’? Lessons from responses to Coronavirus for addressing our planetary emergency by John Barry – 21 April
And read a first-person account from the beginning of the pandemic by NS contributor Callum McNeill here:
Escaping The Coronavirus – February 9
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More ways to let your hair down, as well as get it cut
Over the past week many people’s lives – and livelihoods – have regained some semblance of pre-lockdown normality, with bars, restaurants and hotels opening their doors again to customers. Haircuts, gym sessions and indoor weddings and baptisms are also now possible in Northern Ireland. Cinemas and bingo halls can open again from 10 July.
With more restrictions eased in Northern Ireland, and as deaths continue to fall, the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer have urged the public not to be complacent, noting that a Leicester-style local lockdown could be introduced here if cases begin to spike again. “With (greater) freedoms have come much greater individual responsibility,” they warned.
However, despite concerns that travellers from Great Britain pose the greatest risk to virus transmission, the Executive decided on Thursday not to impose any quarantine restrictions for those travelling to Northern Ireland from within the Common Travel Area. It was also announced that people travelling to Northern Ireland from 59 countries will not have to self-isolate on arrival.
Unlike previously, changes to lockdown measures were not announced in joint press conferences by the First and deputy First Minister. As the fallout continues over Michelle O’Neill’s apparent breaches of public health guidelines, a united front from the Executive looks harder to achieve.
Sunak makes a statement
Meanwhile, at Westminster, Rishi Sunak made his Summer Statement (or ‘mini-budget’). The Chancellor unveiled a £30 billion plan to try and stimulate the economy and avoid mass unemployment. It has been broadly welcomed across the political spectrum, but the Labour Party has expressed concerns over whether measures are sufficiently targeted where they are most needed.
The measures amount to £155 million in new funding for Northern Ireland, which have been cautiously welcomed by the Finance Minister. However, Conor Murphy argued the funding “does not go far enough.”
And as the Twelfth approaches, the Orange Order are asking people to stay at home this year.
Calls for hope & calls to action
Northern Slant aims to highlight some of the good news stories happening all around us. We’ll also show 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