Covid-19: Number of Delta variant cases double in Northern Ireland
By Lesley Anne McKeown
image captionSurge testing had been taking place in Kilkeel in response to the discovery of a cluster Delta cases
The number of suspected cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in NI has doubled to about 80, BBC News NI understands.
Sources have also said it has spread to different parts of the country.
The so-called Indian variant, now named the Delta by the World Health Organisation (WHO), was first confirmed in Northern Ireland in early May.
Last Friday, 26 Delta cases were confirmed by health officials, with surge testing taking place in Kilkeel.
Covid-19: Lisburn woman waiting more than a year for heart surgery
By Lesley-Anne McKeown
image captionLinda Murray s surgery has been re-scheduled multiple times
A woman waiting more than a year for heart surgery says she fears her condition has deteriorated.
Linda Murray, 62 and from Lisburn, has been suffering with a mitral valve prolapse for eight years and was due to have a repair procedure last January.
However, the operation was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has not yet taken place.
Health Minister Robin Swann said waiting lists had been unacceptable for some time.
There were 90 people waiting more than six months for cardiac surgery at the end of 2020 compared to three people for the same period in 2019, according to figures from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) charity.
Covid-19: Rules on care home and hospital visits eased
By Lesley Anne McKeown
image copyrightReuters
Changes to hospital and care home visiting in Northern Ireland will take effect from this Friday, the Department of Health has announced.
The new rules apply to care settings such as maternity, hospitals, hospices and care homes and will be rolled out in four-week blocks.
Health Minister Robin Swann said visiting had only been restricted because it was absolutely necessary .
The time was now right to carefully reintroduce visiting, he said.
The first phase of changes will involve care home visits being increased from one to two a week, each lasting for one hour.