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11 more Covid-related deaths as council motion calls for free parking for health staff to be permanent

'Council further calls on the Minister to ensure that such provision of free parking is made available to HSC staff on a permanent basis with no specific time restrictions placed by any Trust'

Hospital Parking

There have been 11 further Covid-related deaths reported by the Department of Health today (Sunday).

Ten of these occurred in the last 24 hours – according to the official dashboard – which has the overall total now at 1,050.

It means there have been 18 deaths reported over the weekend.

There has been one further death in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon borough, where the total number of lives lost is now at 111. There has also been two additional deaths in the Newry, Mourne and Down district, where the total now stands at 70.

There were a further 419 cases reported in that timeframe, with 48 in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon and a further 52 in Newry, Mourne and Down.

A total of 2,490 individuals were tested.

There are 413 people now in hospital as a result of the virus, 30 of whom are in intensive care units.

There are currently 21 ICU beds available in Northern Ireland.

Thirty-two patients are in Craigavon. To date, 608 patients have been discharged from the Co. Armagh hospital.

There are five Covid patients in Daisy Hill, with 12 in Lurgan Hospital.

The figures come as Newry, Mourne and Down District Council prepares to consider a notice of motion which would call for free parking for health care staff to be offered on a permanent basis.

The motion will go to the monthly meeting tomorrow (Monday).

It has been tabled by SDLP Councillor John Trainor and is expected to win cross-party support.

He is asking councillors to “note and welcome” the decision by Health Minister Robin Swann to  instruct the Health and Social Care Trusts to provide free parking to HSC staff until March 31.

And Councillor Trainor’s motion adds: “Council further calls on the Minister to ensure that such provision of free parking is made available to HSC staff on a permanent basis with no specific time restrictions placed by any Trust.”

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