1. No deaths from coronavirus were recorded in Northern Ireland in the previous 24 hours.
Across the UK the figures showed the lowest number of deaths from coronavirus in six weeks.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “As a country we can’t let up on this, we’ve passed the peak, protected the NHS, the number of dead is falling, we must keep our resolve.”
2. But, there are 8802 people in hospital with coronavirus with 98 NHS staff ill in hospital.
3. Hancock said contracts have been signed to manufacture two billion items of protective equipment here in the UK.
Worldwide deals have also been signed with 100 new suppliers.
“We continue to improve logistics but these new supplies mean we are now able to replenish our stockpile,” said Hancock.
4. Trials of a new anti-viral drug which can shorten recovery time by four days will be conducted across the UK.
It will be tested where it can provide the best benefit and was described by Hancock “as biggest step forward in the treatment of coronavirus since the crisis began”.
5. Dominic Cummings is overshadowing the Government's plans.
In response to a public question from Rev Martin Poole, a vicar from Brighton, Hancock said the government might review all penalty fines on families who traveled during the lockdown for childcare reasons after the Cummings furore
Hancock stood by Dominic Cummings throughout, cutting off follow-up questions from journalists the best of which came from veteran journalist Joe Murphy on whether infected people should obey instructions for isolating in the test and trace phase or follow their “instincts”.
