First death from coronavirus in Northern Ireland confirmed
All NI schools to close to pupils by end of week
Farm officials tell Stormont committee there's no risk to food supplies
Number of positive cases in NI is 77
The total in the Republic of Ireland stands at 557
First Minister Arlene Foster says the executive are "united" in their objective.
"We are taking a robust approach to tackling Covid-19," she said.
"In these unprecedented times we must exercise patience so that we can work through this for the benefit of everybody."
It's among a number of measures First Minister Arlene Foster says will be introduced to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
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Education Minister Peter Weir and Health Minister Robin Swann are also speaking at the press conference.
The first minister and deputy first ministers have begun their press conference at Stormont.
Press the play button at the top of the page to watch live.
More bad news on the jobs front, as O'Neills Sportswear announces it'll be temporarily laying-off 750 people.
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We'll have more on this as we get it.
And just as we await the daily coronavirus press conference from Stormont, the health department has published the latest figures on the outbreak in Northern Ireland.
As of 14:00 on Thursday testing has resulted in nine new positive cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Northern Ireland to 77.
One person who tested positive has died.
Image source, PanoramaThe total number of tests completed in Northern Ireland is 1,646.
The department has repeated its key advice - people with mild symptoms, a new persistent cough and/or fever, should stay at home and self-isolate.
They will not require testing and will not therefore be included in testing totals.
The daily coronavirus briefing from the Executive Office will begin shortly.
You can watch it live right here, just click on the play button at the top of the page.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, bbcNorthern Ireland's healthcare workers will be included in the expanded Covid-19 testing, the Public Health Agency has said.
It's part of PHA measures to "rapidly" step up testing.
The agency's Dr Lourda Geoghegan said after an initial start of about 40 tests a day they are now at a capacity of 200 tests.
A Londonderry business owner has described the choice of either closing her cafes or remaining open as a 'catch-22'.
Ciara Duddy, the owner of the Pickled Duck cafes, said she knew no matter what decision she took she would face backlash, with the choice being between staying open during a health crisis or close and have staff lose their livelihoods.
She said herself and many other business owners were "left in limbo" by the UK government, as they didn't take "a lead on business closures".
Image source, Getty ImagesMs Duddy said she initially ran a temporary delivery service from one of her two restaurants, but said "it didn't feel right" so she decided to close down completely.
"I employ 20 plus staff members, I didn't have any advice for them- there is no clarity on this," Ms Duddy said.
She added: "We are waiting with bated breath to see what our next step will be".
The Millennium Forum theatre in Londonderry is to close to the public until the week beginning 20 April.
In a statement it thanked customers for their "continued support and patience".
As well as the Appeals Service postponing all oral hearings, assessments for Personal Independence Payments (PIPS) will also be pushed back - that's according to tweets by Sinn Féin MP Mickey Brady.
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An unusual sitting of the Dáil (Irish lower house of parliament) to pass emergency measures in the fight against Covid-19 has begun.
Image source, BBNo more than 30% of the 160 TDs can be in the chamber at any one time and all are sitting at least 2 metres apart.
The emergency legislation is designed to ensure that those who lose their jobs because of the virus will get social welfare payments; a second part allows the state to detain those who ignore medical advice to self-isolate after getting a positive Covid-19 test result.
With some stark scens at Northern Ireland's supermarkets - such as empty shelves following bulk buying - the public have been asked to remember to treat retail staff with respect.
That's the message from retail analyst Donald McFetridge, who said he has been made aware of some "disgraceful behaviour" in shops over recent days.
Image source, AFPPanic buying has left some supermarkets in the UK with empty shelves
The former University of Ulster retail lecturer told BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show that the public need to "realise they (retail staff) are in a very difficult position".
"They are acting as the front line as it were," he said.
"We may only have to pop in for five or ten minutes but we are one of thousands of people they are seeing every day. We need to have consideration for retail staff."
Some supermarkets across the UK have moved to limit the sale of products to curb bulk buying.
The Public Health Agency has said trusts are working very hard to ensure there is enough personal protective equipment for staff.
The agency's Dr Lourda Geoghegan said there are challenges because of the demand worldwide for such equipment, but they are working locally and nationally to establish and maintain supply chains.
Danske, one of the largest of Northern Ireland's 'big four' local banks, has said some branches will not open on Saturdays or stay open later on Thursdays.
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A shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, is causing worry among care workers, Stormont's health committee has been told.
Image source, PA MediaPauline Shepherd, of Independent Health and Care Providers, described care workers as “ill-equipped” on the frontline.
She said more resources and equipment are needed in the sector to cope with coronavirus.
"I feel like I’ve had to nearly climb on the top of the roof to actually be heard and say this needs to be resolved,” she said.
A big question on the minds of school students is what is going to happen to their exams?
Speaking this moring, Education Minister Peter Weir confirmed the "physical tests will not be going ahead", and he would be making a further announcement on this later today.
Image source, PA"I will give an absolute assurance that the qualification will be there, that is also something which will operate across the UK," he said.
"Very good work has gone on by CCEA... we are reaching a situation where all of the examining boards will be in-step."
The Public Health Agency has said the capacity to test for coronavirus is being "rapidly stepped up".
During a live briefing, the agency said tests have gone up from 40 per day to about 200 per day, but will increase four-fold in the next few days.
Among those being prioritised will be people admitted to hospital, those in residential care and health care workers
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The health minister has said that if social distancing and other measures are to be implemented by the population, "with a combined effect they could reduce the peak [of coronavirus cases] by some 50% and reduce deaths by up to a third".
Image source, pacemaker"Planning assumptions also indicate that 8% of infected people will require hospitalisation, 0.7% will require critical care, and 1% will die – although these figures will vary highly depending on age and other health factors," Mr Swann said.
“There is no doubt these measures come at a cost. They will be difficult for people to stick to. They will have significant social and economic impacts. But they will save lives.”
Health Minister Robin Swann has set out measures to deal with the expected surge of coronavirus cases.
Coming into effect from now until mid-April, they include:
• Testing capacity will be expanded to around 800 Covid-19 tests per day
• Third-year nursing and midwifery students within the last six months of qualifying will be redeployed to clinical care. This will happen in the next 10-14 days and will provide support of up to 880 senior nursing and midwifery students
Image source, pacemaker• Final-year medical students at QUB Medical School will join the medical register four months earlier than originally envisaged
• All trusts have identified specific wards to provide additional bed capacity to respond to the needs of people with Covid-19 who need hospital admission
• Forty additional mechanical ventilators (30 adult units and 10 paediatric units) have been ordered bringing the total available in Northern Ireland to 179 by the end of March
• Plans are in place to rapidly increase the number of critical care beds as necessary
• Trusts are halting non-urgent appointments investigation and procedures