Coronavirus

Former first minister Baroness Arlene Foster giving evidence for module 7 to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in London

No evidence of fall in Covid rules compliance after Storey funeral, O’Neill says

Screen grab from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry live stream of Hazel Gray giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in London. Photo: UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA Wire

NI couple died after Covid ‘taken into house by carers’, daughter tells inquiry

An Access to Finance survey has revealed that 24% of smaller firms in NI are still using/paying back Covid Loans. The report also revealed that 17% of smaller firms turn to credit cards for finance while 12% use business overdraft facilities. Pictured is Susan Nightingale, director Devolved Nations, UK Network British Business Bank

Almost a quarter of smaller Northern Ireland businesses still using Covid loans

Stormont's former finance minister Conor Murphy giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Devolved regions ‘politely entertained but not listened to’ during pandemic

Dead black headed gulls at RSPB Belfast's Window On Wildlife reserve in Belfast Harbour in 2023. Photo: PA

H5N1 bird flu 'could become pandemic' says UKHSA director

Trevor Patterson holds an image of his late brother Samuel Patterson at PA Duffy & Co Solicitors offices in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Covid death families accuse Stormont leaders of ignoring them

Heather Hamill-Vaughan, managing director of Proparamedics in Belfast pictured with her two children, Megan and Patrick Hamill who have turned a small family-run operation into a vital service that’s saving lives and helping the NHS and patients every day

How busy mum built a small family-run firm into a vital service that saves lives

A sign with the message, Working To Help You #StaySafe, on William Street South in Belfast on the third day of a six week lockdown in December 2020.

Swedish approach raised after Chief Medic advises next Covid plan

The owner of a popular Northern Ireland riverside coffee van Coffee at the Dock which was a ‘life-saver’ during the Covid pandemic for its outside location have revealed plans to close next month. Pictured is owner Frances Galbraith with colleague and friend Marjorie Mcilfatrick

Video: Shock as ‘journey comes to an end’ for popular NI riverside coffee van

Graph showing weekly admissions to hospital in Northern Ireland with Covid (with the most recent week being June 23, 2024). The numbers on the left axis read 100 and 200

'Significant' rise in Covid hospital admissions in Northern Ireland

Sláinte Holistic Wellbeing Retreat Centre in the Roe Valley is opening after years of dedicated preparation. Initially scheduled to launch in 2020-2022, the centre faced delays due to the global pandemic. Credit Facebook

NI wellbeing retreat centre opens its doors after four year pandemic pause

Anne-Marie O’Neill with her late father John, who died from Covid-19. The family were only allowed to say goodbye to him via Zoom.

Covid Inquiry: Distraught daughter says a part of her died with her father

First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill leaves the Clayton Hotel in Belfast after giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 inquiry hearing. Picture date: Tuesday May 14, 2024. PA Photo.

Foster ‘can’t stand’ with O’Neill after Storey funeral, say minutes

Co Antrim woman Andrea Anthony, who died from Covid-19, aged 58.

Covid Inquiry: Alan said his sister Andrea was like a mother to him

Former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir Brandon Lewis, arriving at the Clayton Hotel in Belfast to give evidence to the UK Covid-19 inquiry hearing.

Direct rule ‘only option to intervene if NI ministers failed to agree on Covid’

The funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey which took place today at St. Agnes’ Church, Belfast. The funeral procession left the church before heading to Milltown Cemetery, where he was buried in the Republican Plot. Gerry Adams gave an oration in the cemetery. The funeral was attended by leading republicans and senior Sinn Fein members. Photo Pacemaker Press

Storey funeral ‘undermined confidence in lockdown more than minister disputes’
The attendance of Sinn Fein politicians at a funeral in Belfast in 2020 had a greater impact in undermining public confidence in lockdown restrictions than disputes between Stormont ministers, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has heard
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Michael McBride receiving his Covid-19 vaccination in 2022.

Calls for Covid inquiry to probe Bobby Storey funeral in Belfast

A loyalist band and protestors make their way through Markethill during a protest event against the Irish Sea Customs Border, and 'two-tier policing' on 5 May 2021.Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye

Court summonses for bandsmen in wake of anti-Protocol protests

(left to right) Kirsten Hackman, Michelle Rumball, Fran Hall and Kathryn Butcher, who were removed from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry as Boris Johnson began his evidence with an apology to victims of the pandemic at Dorland House in London, during its second investigation (Module 2) exploring core UK decision-making and political governance. Photo : Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

Covid Inquiry: ‘We don’t want your apology’, protesters tell Boris Johnson

Bishop Climate Wiseman, 46, is greeted by his supporters outside Inner London Crown Court, when he was charged with fraud and unfair trading offences over the selling of 'plague protection kits' with claims a mixture made from oil and red string, was a cure for Covid-19.

Preacher convicted of fraud over bogus Covid cure loses appeal

Signage on a shop window in Belfast in December 2021 asking customers to social distance. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

Northern Ireland had lowest Covid deaths rate in UK, report states

Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer Sir Michael McBride has previously urged people to come forward for their vaccinations to reduce pressure on Northern Ireland’s hospitals this winter

New Covid-19 variant detected in Northern Ireland

Martina Ferguson was forbidden from seeing her mother Ursula for nine months during the pandemic due to strict visiting rules in care homes. Her mother later died from Covid.

Authorities failing to hand over evidence to Covid inquiry

Covid-19 vaccincation

Appeal for those eligible for COVID-19 booster to avail as new variant here

A loyalist band and protestors make their way through Markethill during a protest event against the Irish Sea Customs Border, and 'two-tier policing' on 5 May 2021.
Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye

'Two-tier prosecutions' claim after summonses - PPS responds

Dead black headed gulls at RSPB Belfast's Window On Wildlife reserve in Belfast Harbour this summer. The RSPB NI said there had been an outbreak of Avian Influenza or bird flu at the reserve. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

QUB professor's concerns about human version of bird flu

Auditor general, Dorinnia Carville, has published the third in a series of overview reports summarising the Northern Ireland Executive’s expenditure in response to the public health emergency.

Audit Office: Cost of Covid in NI almost £8bn
The cost of responding to the Covid-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland is estimated to have reached more than £7.79 billion, a new Audit Office report has found.
By The Newsroom

Martina Ferguson was forbidden from seeing her mother Ursula for nine months during the pandemic due to strict visiting rules in care homes. Her mother later died from Covid.

NI woman blasts ‘disgraceful’ Boris after 'Partygate' report

Covid conspiracy theories feature in a report to be debated by Presbyterian leaders in Belfast next week.

Presbyterians to reflect on pandemic conspiracy theories

Demand for children's mental health services in Northern Ireland has doubled since the start of the pandemic.

Demand for child mental health services doubled since pandemic

Data from the World Health Organization indicated that children's screen time increased as a result of the pandemic, physical activity levels dropped and sugar intake went up

How Covid changed children's daily routines from diet to screen time

The Covid booster vaccine will be offered to those over 75, residents of care homes and those over the age of five who are immunosuppressed. If you are interested in receiving a booster and fall into a vulnerable category contact your GP to see if you are eligible to receive the booster which is being rolled out now

Covid booster vaccine will be offered to vulnerable groups and older people

A new report on the work of the Northern Ireland-based global diagnostics company Randox shows its Covid-19 PCR testing averted more than 3,000 UK deaths and 14,100 additional hospitalisations during the pandemic emergency. Pictured is the Coronavirus which killed millions of people throughout the world

Covid-19 report: NI firm's PCRs averted thousands of hospitalisations and deaths

A group representing families of those who lost loved ones in the pandemic said the state of the health service in Northern Ireland prior to March 2020 must be examined.

Inquiry must centre on 'perilous state' of public services in NI pre-pandemic

The Memory Stones Of Love have been on tour around Northern Ireland since the summer

Candlelit vigil organised to remember Covid dead at Belfast City Hall

Coronavirus continues to be least prevalent in Northern Ireland, at around one in 60 people.

'Uncertain trend' for positive COVID infections in Northern Ireland

Most common ailments like colds and flu can be treated with self care and over the counter medicines.

‘Lack of planning’ blamed for cold and flu medicine shortages

Cold and flu have laid many people low this winter.

‘Extreme’ demand for cold and flu remedies says pharmacy

Dr Philip Veal. Consultant in Health Protection, explained some theories for the rise of Strep A at this time.

Strep A: Lockdowns may have hit children's immunity

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has caused huge media controversy by appearing on the I'm A Celebrity TV show.

NI psychologist’s ‘reality’ warning to Hancock

Portadown woman Martina Ferguson with her mother Ursula, who died from Covid last year.

NI campaigner says Chinese lockdowns 'ruthless and extreme'

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UK Covid levels fall but cases rise in Northern Ireland new data reveals

One in 35 have Covid in Northern Ireland says latest survey - estimate for infections is 53,700, or one in 35 people, up from 44,200, or one in 40.

One in 35 have Covid in Northern Ireland says latest survey

One of the photos taken on the wards of the Ulster Hospital during the pandemic

Emergency doctor captures in photographs how Covid transformed hospitals

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British pound notes

Covid furlough scheme lost billions of pounds to error and fraud, says watchdog

Don't ignore calls to get your COVID-19 booster jab

People urged not to ignore COVID-19 booster invitation

Health Minister, Robin Swann

Covid-19 powers to be extended by further six months in Northern Ireland

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tina Black pictured with ICU nurse Lyndsey Adamson, who served as Lead Nurse for the former Nightingale Hospital as she received the Freedom of the City on behalf of all those who worked on the frontline during Covid-19.
Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

Frontline pandemic workers honoured with Freedom of Belfast

Handout photo issued by Press Eye of Health Minister Robin Swann during a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast.

Health Minister Robin Swann to testify in Twitter threats case

Those aged 75 and over accounted for 73.9% of the Covid-related deaths registered between March 19 2020 and August 5 this year.

Weekly Covid death toll in Northern Ireland halves

Covid. Photo: Peter Morrison/PressEye

UK Covid-19 infections fall for second week in a row

The NHS is still recovering from the pandemic.

Hospitals recovering from pandemic, say NI surgeons

There is a backlog of up to five months for MOT test appointments in NI due to the pandemic.

Drivers given advice on five month backlog for MOT test in NI

The hearing was in Newtownards Magistrates Court.

Man accused of threat against Robin Swann ordered to appear in court

Van Morrison challenging decision to hear Robin Swann case without a jury

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