Executive Daily Update: Initiatives to deal with Coronavirus (17 April 2020).
Northern Ireland Executive Ministers and their officials have over the past 24 hours been involved in a number of initiatives and critical decisions relating to the Coronavirus emergency.
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency provided a fuller picture of the number of deaths relating to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland with the release of new statistics.
NISRA’s figures showed that of the 157 total deaths registered involving Covid-19 up to 10th April 2020, 109 (69%) occurred in hospital, 41 (26%) in care homes and hospices and 7 (4%) at private addresses.
The 41 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 23 separate establishments.
First Minister Arlene Foster, deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Health Minister Robin Swann said the statistics on Covid-19 recorded by NISRA were helping inform the Executive’s response to the pandemic but they were also very sobering.
First Minister Foster said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost someone to this disease. We think particularly of all those who have passed away in care homes and I want to send a very clear message to their families that your precious loved ones will not be forgotten.”
Deputy First Minister O’Neill added: “We know that older people are particularly susceptible to the devastating effects of Covid-19, and our care homes are very vulnerable at this time. Every death as a result of Coronavirus is a tragedy and it is right that we recognise every life lost to this disease. I send my sincere condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in the most difficult circumstances.”
Minister Swann said: “The daily surveillance report published by the Public Health Agency is a vital tool, giving a timely indication of the current situation and enabling us to anticipate pressures in our health service. In addition to this, we have been working closely with NISRA to ensure we are capturing as full a picture as possible as to the impact of Covid-19 across the community and, in particular, in our care homes.
“Today’s report, which indicates that a further 39 deaths were connected to Covid-19 up to 10 April, while not unexpected is truly sobering. It reflects the cruel and heart-breaking reality of the situation we are faced with.”
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey revealed an additional £250,000 has been added to her department’s Hardship Fund to help sports clubs and organisations meet the cost of essential overheads and the costs of maintaining their facilities during lockdown.
The move came after it emerged around 350 sports clubs and organisations have applied for financial assistance since the scheme was launched on Monday.
The £500,000 fund, managed by SportNI, aims to provide financial assistance through a £2000 grant to sports clubs and during the Covid-19 lockdown period.
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: “In order to meet that huge scale in demand, I am pleased that the initial funding of £500,000 has been increased by a further £250,000 through the reallocation of exchequer funding from Sport NI programmes.
“The level of demand for the scheme is exceptional and shows that there is a significant need across the sports sector at this time. The funding will go a long way to ensuring that clubs and organisations continue to exist, that facilities are maintained and that the sector is ready when the lockdown restrictions start to be relaxed.”
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