Tina McKenzie, chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said the hospitality and manufacturing sectors have been hit hardest by job losses caused by the outbreak.

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However, she said there has been a spike in vacancies in sectors such as food processing and particularly in health care.

"If you’ve been let go, you may not get a job similar to what you were doing, but you probably have skills that can be used in another job and the more flexible you are the more chance you have of being in full-time employment," she said.

This from the head of policy with Advice NI Kevin Higgins.

All appeals on benefit claims before the Appeals Service are to be cancelled from today until further notice.

Appellants will have the option to opt for a paper hearing, to have their hearing heard remotely, or to wait on an oral hearing.

Tony Gallagher, professor of education at Queen's University, tells Radio Ulster's Talkback that teachers have been working really hard to try and deal with a hugely uncertain situation

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"If I have one key message that I want to get out to parents it's trust the teachers, stay communicating with the schools," he said.

"Trust that the teachers are going to do everything they possibly can to make sure that their children are going to continue to have as good an education experience as they possibly can given the circumstances."

Professional football in England has officially been postponed "until no earlier than 30 April" - but officials are preparing for an indefinite delay beyond that date, according to the statement below.

With schools now closed and many people working from home, parents and their children will be spending a lot of time together in the house - but an expert in mental health has offered advice to parents on how to deal with their kids' anxieties around coronavirus.

Siobhan O'Neill, professor of mental health sciences at Ulster University, tells BBC Talkback that children can pick up on worry from parents and are constantly on the look out for any sign something is wrong.

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"It’s important that those lines of communication are open, that children’s concerns are validated and that you give them information in an age-appropriate way and then divert very quickly into other activities," she said

"We don't need them to worry about this, but we do need to help them through it."

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

All driving tests across Northern Ireland are being suspended for three months due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said the measure would take effect from 17:00 GMT on Thursday.

She said the decision had been taken in keeping with social distancing measures the government has asked people to adhere to.

Image source, Getty Images

Customers will be refunded and staff in driving test centres will continue to be paid, she said.

"Exceptional arrangements" would be made for emergency and essential services, she added in a tweet.

The cost of a theory test in NI is £23 for cars and motorcycles, with a range of costs for the practical test, starting from £45.50 on weekdays.

Speaking on BBC Talkback, BBC News NI's health correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly says Northern Ireland needs to ramp up its coronavirus testing,

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"For the moment 366 people have been tested, 68 people have tested positive," she said. "This is nowhere near reflective of what is going on in Northern Ireland at the moment."

Women's Aid NI has said it expects domestic violence to increase with forced social isolation.

While it is not taking new referrals for face-to-face appointments, it will be providing assistance using messaging and video software, as well as having its phone line available.

Conor Macauley
BBC News NI Agriculture and Environment Correspondent

Despite the panic or bulk buying going on at supermarkets, there's no risk to food supplies in Northern Ireland - that's according to senior officials responsible for farming and food.

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They told Stormont's agriculture and environment committee they expect panic buying to end as people realise supply lines are secure and run out of space in their homes to store food.

The agriculture department's head of farming, Norman Fulton, said the message from producers and retailers was that they were coping well with the increased demand.

Northern Ireland's six further and higher education colleges have decided to suspend all face-to-face teaching.

Image source, gett

The suspension begins at 17:00 on Friday and will last until further notice. Courses will continue remotely, including the use of digital learning where possible.

With schools closed, it's been said that school places will be made available for the children of healthcare workers - but the details are not completely clear yet.

Justin McCamphill, from one of NI's largest teaching unions NASUWT, said he was "slightly clearer" after hearing Education Minister Peter Weir talk about the measures.

Image source, Getty Images

"We need to bear in mind as well that many of those teachers have children as well who will be off school," he said.

"And we need to ask the question if we are looking after the healthcare workers children, where will our children go?"

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr Barnier, who was a key figure in the wrangling over the future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, tweeted that he's "doing well and in good spirits".

A plea from healthcare workers.

Speaking about Northern Ireland's first coronavirus death, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: "While we knew this day would come, it doesn’t make it any less devastating for the loved ones of that individual.

"This sad news brings home to us all why it is so important to take every step possible to protect ourselves and the most vulnerable.

"The social distancing measures we are urging everyone to take are not easy, but they are necessary. We all have a part to play in keeping people safe and ultimately saving lives."

First Minister Arlene Foster has expressed sympathy following the first death of a person in Northern Ireland who had tested positive for Covid-19.

"This is a sad day for Northern Ireland," she said.

"This is not unexpected news. We knew that this pandemic would inevitably cost precious lives. We cannot stop it. But it is incumbent on all of us to do whatever we can to slow its spread and shield those most vulnerable from the effects of this virus."