A Belfast city centre hotel is to be used to care for coronavirus patients who have been discharged from hospital.
The Irish News has learned that the Ramada hotel on Talbot Street will open this week as a "step down" centre.
Some cancer patients based at the City Hospital are also to be transferred to the Ulster Independent Clinic as part of massive reorganisation of the health service ahead of a surge of Covid-19 cases.
The news emerged as:
- The number of deaths across Ireland passed the 200 mark, with 15 more in the north over the weekend and 38 in the south.
- Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill called for testing of all healthcare workers after a drive-through facility opened at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
- Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, a former doctor, has rejoined the medical register and will work one shift a week.
- A UDA-linked organisation has been among several community groups awarded 'emergency coronavirus funding' by Belfast City Council
It is understood two floors of the 165-bed Ramada hotel will be used for recovering coronavirus patients as part of an overhaul of the north's hospital and community care sector ahead of a projected peak in cases over the next fortnight.
Signage appeared over the weekend stating: 'Healthcare Ireland joint partnership with Belfast Trust - Community Step Down Centre'.
The Irish News has also learned that some cancer patients attending the regional centre at Belfast City Hospital are also to be transferred to the Ulster Independent Clinic.
Hundreds of frontline staff are being deployed to the City tower block, which will become the regional 'Nightingale' centre for Covid-19.
The north's cancer centre is in a different building but Belfast health trust said some chemotherapy provision will move to the nearby private hospital to aid social distancing and reduce footfall on the site.
In a statement, the Belfast trust said: "In order to enhance the capacity to social distance patients attending for chemotherapy treatment in the NI Cancer Centre, and reduce the footfall on the Belfast City Hospital site, it is proposed that some chemotherapy service provision will transfer to the outpatient centre of the Ulster Independent Clinic, one of the three independent sector hospitals secured by HSC to assist in the Covid-19 response."
Meanwhile, health minister Robin Swann has urged the public to stick to social distancing rules to avoid the imposition of an exercise ban.
Mr Swann was speaking after UK health secretary Matt Hancock said he would take away exercise as a reason to leave home if too many flout the rules.
The UUP minister said he was "keenly aware" that further restrictions could severely impact those without access to a garden.
"It can be prevented if everyone continues to do the right thing," he said.
"That means staying at home, only going out if it's necessary and keeping our distance if we do have to go out.
"I am very encouraged by the extent to which people across Northern Ireland are following the guidance.
"The message for this week is: stick with the fightback against Covid-19. We must never let our guard down if we want to protect ourselves, protect our health service and save lives. Any hints of complacency and impatience must be strongly resisted."
