Steve McGookinWelcome to Northern Slant’s weekly round-up of local virus-related items you might have missed. Our next, and final, update will appear on 28 August.
Previous updates are here, for the weeks ending:
- 7 August, 14 August
- 3 July, 10 July, 17 July, 24 July, 31 July;
- 26 June, 19 June, 12 June, 5 June;
- 29 May, 15 May, 8 May, 1 May;
- 24 April, 17 April, 10 April.
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 a ‘Build Back Better’ Recovery – 6 July
- Surgery and Trauma: A Junior Doctor’s Perspective of Lockdown and Why We Can’t Repeat it – 18 June
- Lockdown lore, from Newry to Indonesia 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 – 9 February
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Warnings of fresh crackdown as infections rise
The Executive agreed changes to the Coronavirus Health Regulations which will take effect next week, as transmission of the virus in the community has increased, with the R-number currently at around 1.3. The seven-day rolling average number of infections is now 40 a day, 10 times higher than the rate in early July. Mid- and East Antrim has recorded the highest number of recent infections after a meat plant in Cullybackey was forced to close after a cluster of infections.
Health Minister Robin Swann warned of a “slippery slope” and said “PSNI enforcement action will be focused at hotspot areas, in liaison with public health authorities and as part of a coordinated approach.” But concerns have been raised about exactly how enforcement will take place.
The latest NISRA figures show seven new Covid-related deaths, bringing the overall total to 866.
Meanwhile, the government in the Irish Republic has reimposed restrictions until September 13 at the earliest, amid an increase in cases there.
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Schools prepare for uncertain re-opening
The moves towards additional restrictions come as uncertainty continues over how ready our schools are for the return of children next week.
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Other virus news items this week
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Calls for hope and 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 for Action
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Information and Resources
Keep up with the latest updates from the Northern Ireland Department of Health here.
And from Belfast City Council here.
Have a good weekend.