Coronavirus briefing: Nurse from Northern Ireland dies after testing positive for COVID-19

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is to open parks for public use during the Coronavirus lockdown.

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News   What's On   Lifestyle              Apr 20, 2020           Good evening,  The human impact of the coronavirus pandemic was all too apparent on Monday.  First, we had a young nurse from Northern Ireland who spoke frankly about how she had found life difficult since contracting the virus.  Laura Donnelly, 22, made a plea for people to take the virus seriously during an emotional Facebook post.  Later in the day came the news that an NHS worker from Northern Ireland had become the first from the Province to pass away from contracting Covid-19. Pat McManus, a 60-year-old father-of-three, worked as a nurse for the last 40 years and was working in north London at the time of his death. Such sad and tragic news. Stay safe,   Alistair Bushe, Editor These are today's headlines: Health Minister, Robin Swann, has confirmed 13 more people have died in hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.  The total number of deaths in Northern Ireland now stands at 207. Mr Swann announced the news of the deaths at the daily Coronavirus briefing in Stormont. A proposal to move coronavirus-free care home residents to hotels has been described as "feasible". The trade union Unison has called for all residents and staff working in care homes to be tested to determine who has Covid-19, with those testing negative to be moved in a bid to save lives. The latest figures have indicated that the virus has now been detected in 53 residential facilities in Northern Ireland. The UK government's furlough scheme opened for applications today. The scheme will see the government cover 80 per cent of furloughed employees salaries. Within 30 minutes of the scheme being opened this morning 67,000 claims had been submitted For details on the scheme and how to apply click here           Coronavirus: Lisburn and Castlereagh Council to open public parks           Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is to open parks for public use during the Coronavirus lockdown.                 Coronavirus: First NHS nurse from Northern Ireland dies after testing positive for COVID-19   A male nurse originally from Strabane, Co. Tyrone has become the first known NHS worker from Northern Ireland to die after testing positive for COVID-19.           Toddler recovers from Covid-19 despite heart defect and chronic lung disease   A one-year-old girl has recovered from Covid-19 despite being born with a congenital heart defect and a chronic lung disease.                 View more on Coronavirus

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