Northern Ireland

Coronavirus: 280 new cases and three further deaths

There have been 50,064 positive tests since the start of the pandemic.
There have been 50,064 positive tests since the start of the pandemic. There have been 50,064 positive tests since the start of the pandemic.
By Digital staff

Another 280 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said.

A total of 2,955 tested positive in the past week. There have been 50,064 positive tests since the start of the pandemic. 

Another three people have died, taking the toal number of deaths to 936. 

There are 438 people with Covid-19 in hospital, 37 in ICU of whom 31 are on ventilators.

There are 146 care homes with confirmed/suspected outbreaks.

The Stormont Executive has agreed a £338m support package, including £213m for businesses, ahead of two weeks of strict restrictions from Friday November 27 to suppress the spread of coronavirus.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy said the funding comes from £400 million which Stormont received from the Treasury two weeks ago.

Current support measures, including the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme and the Department for Economy's Covid Restrictions Business Support Schemes, will be extended.

£213m of the £338m has been set aside for businesses and another £150m has been set aside for a potential extended rates holiday for businesses from April 2021.

The £213m package for businesses includes:

  • Additional £55m for rates-based grant scheme (£90m total) – extended to include non-essential retail, leisure and entertainment businesses required to close for two weeks
  • £95m high street voucher scheme (via a pre-paid card)
  • £20m has also been allocated for a scheme for company directors, who were previously excluded from government support.
  • £20m to extend rates holiday for manufacturers
  • £10.6m for ‘wet pubs’
  • £5m top-up to tourism and hospitality scheme
  • £4.1m for B&Bs (aimed at 953 businesses)
  • £3m to extend digital selling capability grant

Earlier today, Stormont health minister Robin Swann has made a “heartfelt plea for unity” in the Northern Ireland Assembly ahead of tough new coronavirus restrictions coming into force on Friday.

“The public are watching and are looking to us for united leadership,” he told MLAs on Monday.

Mr Swann said while it is the duty of the chamber to hold the Executive to account and scrutinise policy decisions, he urged against a descent into “political point-scoring”.

“The last few weeks have not seen devolution at its best. That is something of an understatement,” he said.