Categories
Health

Executive statement on additional restrictions

The Executive has agreed a package of additional restrictions given the high levels of Covid-19 transmission in the community. Ministers updated the Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee on the detail of decisions reached, which cover schools and the extension of remote learning until the mid-term break in February; enhanced measures to limit contacts between individuals in […]

Categories
Agriculture

MINISTER LAUNCHES ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT INDEX FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots has announced the launch of the Environmental Engagement Index for Northern Ireland. The Environmental Engagement Index is unique to Northern Ireland as we lead the way in exploring engagement and connection to nature by using this yearly survey. Research has shown that if people are engaged with […]

Categories
Crime

MALLON: ROAD SAFETY – WE ALL HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has issued a reminder today that we all have an individual responsibility to take extra care as we share the roads. Minister Mallon made the appeal as the release of provisional figures today by the PSNI show that 56 people died in road tragedies during 2020, which is the same number […]

Categories
Health

Statement following Executive meeting to discuss Covid-19

The Executive met this evening to discuss the concerning progression of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last month the Executive moved ahead of other jurisdictions to make an intervention that saw the introduction of strict, wide-ranging measures from December 26 for a period of six weeks, and tonight discussed what additional measures are necessary given the very […]

Categories
Education

WEIR ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO SCHOOLS` REOPENING ARRANGEMENTS

Education Minister Peter Weir has announced revised plans for schools reopening after the Christmas break. This follows recent advice on the current situation of the epidemic, levels of transmission and numbers of cases.     From next Monday (4 January): Primary school pupils will be taught remotely until 11 January, after which they will attend school […]

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Health

OXFORD/ASTRAZENECA VACCINE GETS THE GO AHEAD

Approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine boosts our confidence that better times are ahead in 2021, Health Minister Robin Swann has stated. The approval by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) paves the way for a significant acceleration of Northern Ireland’s vaccination programme. But the Minister has also warned that the coming weeks […]

Categories
Crime

Long: Staying at home vital but help is still available for victims of domestic abuse

The ‘stay at home’ message has never been more important if we are to protect the health service and save lives but this does not mean victims of domestic violence will be forgotten. That was the message today from Justice Minister Naomi Long who stressed that help and support is available for those who find themselves […]

Categories
Health

NEW TRAVEL REGULATIONS

From today, any person arriving into Northern Ireland who has been in South Africa within the last 14 days must self-isolate for 10 days along with all members of their household. Anyone already in Northern Ireland who has been in South Africa in the previous 14 days is asked to self-isolate along with household members […]

Categories
Health

NEW VARIANT COVID-19 CASE CONFIRMED IN NORTHERN IRELAND

The Department of Health can confirm a positive test for the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Northern Ireland. The confirmation underlines the need for everyone to “redouble our efforts to stop the virus spreading,” Health Minister Robin Swann has emphasised. Genome analysis had been conducted on a small number of suspected Northern Ireland cases, […]

Categories
Health

HEALTH MINISTER PRAISES “HUGE ACHIEVEMENT” OF VACCINATION TEAMS

Health Minister Robin Swann has praised the work of the COVID-19 vaccination teams who have now administered the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to more than 25,000 care home residents and frontline Health and Social Care staff.  To date, 25,116 vaccine doses have been administered. Those receiving the jabs include 8,031 care home residents – more than […]

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Health

NISRA – COVID-19 RELATED DEATHS AND PRE EXISTING CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND: MARCH-NOVEMBER 2020

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has today published a report on pre-existing conditions associated with Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland. Between 1st March and 30th September 2020, there were 902 Covid-19 related deaths registered in Northern Ireland. Covid-19 was the underlying cause of death (that is, the disease or injury which […]

Categories
Health

STATEMENT ON CHANGING OF ADVICE TO CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE PEOPLE

The Department of Health has updated the advice to Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people to help them keep safe through the Christmas period and beyond. CEV people are reminded to consider very carefully any plans for a Christmas Bubble over the festive period. Unfortunately you remain extremely vulnerable to this virus and the safest option is not […]