Jamie PowWelcome to Northern Slant’s weekly round-up of local virus-related items you might have missed. The next update will appear on 8 May. Previous weeks are here:
You might also like to read the thoughts of some of our contributors – and perhaps contribute your own – on ‘After The Lockdown – Hopes for Northern Ireland.’
See Also:
Lessons on the Environment from Responses to Coronavirus – 21 April
A Universal Basic Income Will Help Renew Society – 16 April
In Pivotal Week, Virus Leaves Politics in Disarray – 10 April
China’s Tyrannical Hubris – 6 April
And read a first-person account by NS contributor Callum McNeill here:
Escaping The Coronavirus – 9 February
Have a good weekend.
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Past the peak, but caution required
Northern Ireland’s Chief Scientific Officer says we are now past the peak of the virus, but warned that “while cases are falling, they are falling very slowly indeed.” At the same Stormont briefing Health Minister Robin Swann indicated that social distancing will be a long-term measure.
With the UK government set to announce plans to ease lockdown restrictions next week, the Executive will be expected to set out its own plan. The deputy First Minister told the BBC that any exit from the current phase will be “gradual and slow.” But some of her ministerial colleagues have been keen to stimulate a debate on specific, with Edwin Poots suggesting that churches and garden centres could be reopened if social distancing could be maintained. Meanwhile, debate continues over whether or when places of worship might re-open.
The latest bulletin from NISRA (with a one week time lag) reports that 393 deaths had been recorded in Northern Ireland as of 24 April. The new figures show a rise in the number of deaths in care homes, accounting for 40% of the total.
Political and economic developments
Calls for hope and 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’ll 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
Information and resources
Keep up with the latest updates from the Northern Ireland Department of Health here.
And from Belfast City Council here.
