Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Saturday 27°CSunday 24°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
CoronavirusDerry CityHealthNews

COVID-19: Coronavirus in North’s care homes a ‘critical battle’ for executive

written by John May 24, 2020
ShareTweet

Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill

Tackling Covid-19 in care homes is still a “critical battle”, the first and deputy first ministers have said.

Almost half of the 664 Covid-linked deaths recorded by NI’s statistics agency, Nisra, occurred in care homes.

There has been 27 confirmed deaths from Coronavirus in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area since the start of the pandemic with a further 163 confirmed cases.

Speaking in a joint interview on Sky News, Arlene Foster said care homes had always been a focus for the executive.

The first minister said the Department of Health had been planning to make sure it could deal with care home outbreaks, alongside hospital transmissions of the virus.

“We have made many interventions in our private care home sector as well,” she said.

“The whole executive acknowledges care homes are a critical battle for us now and we want to deal with it in a very proactive way.”

Last week, the Department of Health said testing on all care home residents will be completed by the end of June.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said she believed tackling the pandemic had brought the Stormont parties closer together.

“In so far as we’re having to work around the clock to take this on,” said Ms O’Neill.

“There’s been differences in emphasis but not differences in approach. We were thrust into this but executive colleagues have worked closely together to save lives”.

Both ministers said they had also felt the strain of the pandemic affecting their normal lives.

Ms O’Neill said as political leaders, they had given up much “family time”.

“We’re no different to anybody else, we find it as hard as everybody else,” said the deputy first minister.

“Our reality is the same as everybody else’s.”

Mrs Foster said she missed the “ordinary things we take for granted”, like going to church and getting her hair cut.

“I hope after this that people do value their freedom and all these things they haven’t been able to do over the past eight weeks,” she added.

The first steps to ease lockdown in the North of Ireland took effect last week.

The executive is next due to review the lockdown regulations by this Thursday, May 28, but it has not put a timetable into its five-step pathway to recovery.

COVID-19: Coronavirus in North’s care homes a ‘critical battle’ for executive was last modified: May 24th, 2020 by John

Tags:
ARLENE FOSTERCOVID-19: Coronavirus in North's care homes a 'critical battle' for executiveDEPARTMENT OF HEALTHhospiceshospitalsMichelle O'NeillNisraresidential care home
ShareTweet
John

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Man arrested in Derry over murder bid...

6 hours ago

Man to face Derry court over cannabis...

20 hours ago

Man arrested in Derry after 120 cannabis...

1 day ago

Derry Labour Market Partnership celebrate success of...

1 day ago

Savour the best of the North West...

1 day ago

Bin collections and Recycling Centres operate as...

1 day ago

Finance Minister visits sites of Derry Strabane...

1 day ago

Durkan: We need to get serious about...

2 days ago

Police appeal over children playing in derelict...

2 days ago

Historic US flag stolen from Derry college

3 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Man to face Derry court over cannabis plants seizure

    July 11, 2025
  • Man charged to court over Derry drugs seizure

    July 6, 2025
  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025
  • Man charged with possessing indecent images of children

    July 4, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy