The Department of Health (DoH) has refused to rule out using hotels as locations to treat Covid-19 patients in Northern Ireland in the future.

The notion was first put into action in England earlier this week when the London Hotel Group converted 107 rooms at its four-star Best Western Plus in Croydon, south London, to act as a quarantine facility for recovering patients at King's College Hospital.

We contacted the DoH and asked if moving Covid-19 patients from hospitals into hotels was an option.

The DoH denied moving patients into hotels was something it was considering right now but refused to rule it out as a future option.

"The department has robust surge plans in place, which include the use of ICU Nightingale facilities at Belfast City Hospital and intermediate care Nightingale facilities at Whiteabbey Hospital; however, the most considerable stress on the HSC system comes not from a lack of equipment or bed space, but from pressures on staff resources, such as nursing staff, including those absent because of COVID-19,” said a departmental spokesperson.

The spokesperson added: "Additionally, hotel accommodation is not equipped with the right facilities to treat patients safely and effectively, even when these patients are in a less acute phase of their illness.  The use of hotel accommodation, therefore, is not included in surge plans at this time. "

The number of Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland has increased to 2,019 according to Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).  

Latest figures published today by NISRA show that 103 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the week January 2 to 8, 2021.  

The total Covid-19 related deaths figure has now surpassed 2,000, reaching 2,019.  

January 7 saw the joint highest number of Covid-19 related deaths occurring in any one day (25) matched by April 9 and 20, 2020  

Of the 2,019 Covid-19 related deaths, 1,247 (61.8%) took place in hospital, 622 (30.8%) in care homes, 12 (0.6%) in hospices and 138 (6.8%) at residential addresses or other locations. The 634 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 149 separate establishments.

The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to January 8, 2021 was 1,438. These figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus, whereas the NISRA figures are based on the information entered on death certificates completed by medical professionals. They may or may not have previously tested positive for the virus.

Further analysis, which includes deaths of care home residents in hospital, shows that of the 802 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 occurred between March 18, 2020 and January 8, 2021, 77.6% (622) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 180 occurring in hospital. On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 39.7% of all Covid-19 related deaths; however, no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease.  

Separate analyses, based on the date of death registration, shows that the provisional number of total deaths from all causes registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending January 8, 2021 (week 1, 2021) was 568, 235 more than week 52 2020, and 173 more than week 1 2020 at 395.

Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 145 (25.5%) of the 568 deaths registered in week 1 2021. This is the highest weekly number of Covid-19 related death registrations since the start of the pandemic, however, delays in death registrations being made, due to the Christmas period may have impacted on this figure.  

The total number of Covid-19 related deaths registered from March 19, 2020 to January 8, 2021 has reached 1,976.

Persons aged 75 and over accounted for 77.6% of the 1,976 Covid‑19 related deaths registered between March 19, 2020 and January 8, 2021, while those with an address in Belfast Local Government District (LGD) accounted for 438 (22.2%) of the total.

A newly identified strain of Covid-19 emanating from Brazil has been detected in the United Kingdom, according to a top scientist.

Professor Wendy Barclay, who is heading a newly-launched project to study the effects of emerging coronavirus mutations called the G2P-UK National Virology Consortium, believes the strain arrived in the UK “some time ago”.

"There are two different types of Brazilian variants and one of them has been detected and one of them has not," said Professor Barclay.

After initial confusion Professor Barclay issued a clarification saying whilst the strain detected in the United Kingdom may have originated from Brazil it is not the same as variant causing concern in South America and Japan.

Stormont is to limit plenary business to law-making to reduce the numbers using the building during the pandemic - writes Michael McHugh, PA.

The number of question times involving ministers orally delivering answers to Assembly members is to fall from four to three a week.

The political parties have agreed to facilitate remote participation in Assembly plenary sessions, Speaker Alex Maskey said.

These have been normally held on Mondays and Tuesdays and in pre-coronavirus times would have brought many members on to the hill.

Mr Maskey said: “At its meeting earlier this week, the Business Committee agreed to limit plenary business during the current restrictions.

“Private members’ motions and adjournment debates will not be scheduled.

“Given the time left in this mandate, it was agreed that it was important that legislation (both Executive and non-Executive bills) continue to be dealt with.”

Most of the Executive’s business since powersharing was restored a year ago has been dominated by dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

The Assembly returns to plenary sittings next week following the Christmas break.

Mr Maskey said that was happening amid a concerning public health picture and the return of strict restrictions.

He added: “While the Assembly has a vital role at this time, it is important that the management of Assembly business should also seek to respond to these serious circumstances, the public health message and the need to protect members and staff as much as possible.”

A new question time rota for oral questions was already scheduled to begin next week. This will reduce the frequency of ministerial attendance.

Remote participation of members in plenary business has been discussed at different committees recently.

The Speaker added: “There is now agreement in principle among the parties to move to facilitate remote participation in plenary sittings and I have communicated that broad position to the Committee on Procedures to assist its further deliberations on the matter.

“Assembly Commission officials have carried out the planning and scoping work to procure and install the necessary equipment. I hope this will minimise any delay between any decision the Committee on Procedures and the Assembly might take and such changes being implemented.”

In many other representative institutions committees have moved entirely to virtual meetings.

A number of fully virtual meetings have taken place at Stormont.

Mr Maskey said: “I would encourage committees to make use of the facilities available to them as such a step would have a significant impact on the number of staff required to be in the building.

“I would ask every member not to attend Parliament Buildings unless required for specific plenary or committee proceedings.

“For my own part, I intend to be in Parliament Buildings only on days when I will be chairing proceedings in the chamber and my office will work remotely the remainder of the time.”

Stormont ministers have requested that Assembly business be reduced to only urgent business during the current lockdown and members stay at home where possible.

Boris Johnson has scrapped the UK’s travel corridors, meaning arrivals from every country must self-isolate for at least five days - writes Neil Lancefield, PA Transport Correspondent. 

The Prime Minister told the Downing Street press conference that the measure is in response to the rollout of coronavirus vaccines and the discovery of new strains of the virus.

He said: “It’s precisely because we have the hope of that vaccine and the risk of new strains coming from overseas that we must take additional steps now to stop those strains from entering the country.

“Yesterday we announced that we’re banning flights from South America and Portugal and to protect us against the risk from as-yet-unidentified strains we will also temporarily close all travel corridors from 0400 on Monday.”

People arriving in the UK from a destination with a travel corridor are currently exempt from the 10-day quarantine requirement.

The new policy means arrivals from every destination will need to self-isolate for 10 days, or receive a negative result from a coronavirus test taken at least five days after they enter the UK.

It had already been announced that travellers arriving in England and Scotland from Monday will need to have a negative test taken up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure.

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said travel corridors were a “lifeline” for the travel industry when they were introduced in summer 2020.

He acknowledged that “things change” and it is the correct decision to remove them, but added that restrictions should be eased again “when it is safe to do so”.

Joss Croft, chief executive of inbound tourism body UKinbound, said: “Consumer safety is paramount and although the removal of all travel corridors is regrettable, given the current trajectory of the virus it’s an understandable decision.”