Good afternoon 

We are all aware of just how badly care homes have been hit by the coronavirus in Northern Ireland. 

Deaths in care homes here account for around half of all Covid-19 related fatalities in Northern Ireland, but there has also been the issue of families being unable to visit their loved ones because of the real risk of further transmission of Covid-19. 

So there will have been considerable interest in today’s announcement from health minister Robin Swann, who said guidance for care homes to allow visits to resume again is currently being finalised.

Mr Swann discussed the re-opening of homes to visitors with the chief nursing officer Charlotte McArdle on Tuesday morning and hopes to “sign off” on a set of guidelines she has produced in the near future.

The news came as the Department of Health confirmed the news that there have been no further deaths in relation to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland during the last 24 hours. The death toll related to Covid-19 here remains at 551 while a further three new cases were confirmed. 

Stay safe

Alistair Bushe, Editor 

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