Four more Covid deaths and over 200 new cases confirmed

By Q Radio News

Another 4 people have died in Northern Ireland after contracting Covid-19. 

It brings the total number of deaths recorded by the Department of Health to 2,063. 

A further 226 positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed since yesterday.

There are currently 307 patients in hospital with Covid-19 with 31 in intensive care.

It comes after Stormont’s First Minister vowed that Northern Ireland must never return to lockdown following the publication of a cautious plan to ease restrictions.

The powersharing administration Arlene Foster helps lead outlined its pathway to recovery yesterday, but faced criticism for not attaching dates to it.

The country has been in deep freeze since Christmas.

Mrs Foster said: “We are asking people to work with us so that we can make this the last lock down.

“That is what I am focused on because we certainly cannot go back into a lock down again.”

Ministers’ blueprint to reopen society focused on nine areas like retail, hospitality and education.

Each will emerge from cold storage in stages.

The document does not include any target dates and ministers have promised decisions on moving between stages will be based on scientific and medical evidence, not the calendar.