Are schools set to return? - Executive meeting to decide
Last updated 30th Oct 2020
The Northern Ireland Executive is set to meet this afternoon to discuss the current Coronavirus restrictions.
Minister are expected to discuss students returning to schools on November 2nd after being off for an extended two-week holiday over Halloween.
Education Minister, Peter Weir, stressed at the time of the announcement that it was his intention that children would not be off school any longer.
With cases continuing to be in the high hundreds and intensive care beds at capacity Ministers could extend the break further.
Since cases started to climb again in Northern Ireland politicians have continued to stress the importance of keeping children in school.
The Health Minister, Robin Swann, said the issue is not with children being in the classroom but the concern lies with what happens at school gates and in other areas.
He said: “It is the extracurricular school activities, the school transport as well.
“So, I’m aware that our Education Minister and Infrastructure Minister have been working together about the number of recommendations there going to bring forward.”
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride has warned that if children do return to the classroom the lifting of other restrictions in other sectors may suffer.
He said: “It remains then for all of us to be prepared and consider what other sacrifices in other sectors that were prepared to make to ensure we keep the level of transmission as low as we can.”
It comes after the Department of Health reported the first person under the age of 19 died after testing positive for Coronavirus.
Aaron Doherty (17) from Londonderry passed away on October 27th.
His father, Jim Tucker Doherty, shared the news on Facebook in a post which said: “My beautiful son. Rest in Peace. Love you.”
He tested positive for Coronavirus a few weeks ago, but was Covid-negative when he passed away.
The Department of Health includes anyone who dies within 28 days of receiving a positive test - as a Covid-related death.
But, Aaron's family said he had heart failure and they don't want him to be remembered as being the youngest person in Northern Ireland to die after testing positive for the virus.
The daily figures also showed eight other people have died from the virus.
While, 44 Covid patients are currently in ICU and there are only 13 intensive care beds free.
Another 840 cases of the virus were also confirmed.
Other issues due to be brought to the Executive table today are plans for a financial support package for the taxi industry and coach operators.
Nichola Mallon is set to put forward a bid to the Finance Minister Conor Murphy later today, after she was given legal powers to develop a scheme.
It is also understood that the SDLP will raise the controversary over Sinn Fein politicians receiving £10,000 from the Small Business Grant scheme.
In a statement Colum Eastwood said, “A number of serious questions need to be answered by Sinn Fein.
“Did Sinn Féin representatives in receipt of the payments raise the issue with their party colleague, the Finance Minister?
“And did he act to resolve the issue with LPS, an arm’s length body of his Department?”
“When did Sinn Féin leadership become aware of this and what steps did they take to resolve it?
“As Joint Head of Government, Michelle O’Neill regularly engages with small businesses in financial despair.
“People will rightly wonder how she was able to look them in the eye, knowing her party colleagues pocketed £30,000 in public money.”