That's all from the live page for tonight.

We'll be back tomorrow morning with more news and reaction starting at 07:30 BST.

In the meantime, from all of us in the BBC News NI digital team, good night, stay home (if you can) and stay safe.

See you all bright and early.

Image source, Getty Images

Here is a summary of a number of the key developments in relation to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in Northern Ireland and beyond.

• The number of coronavirus-related deaths in NI hospitals is now 140, with six new deaths reported in the past 24 hours
• There have been 121 new confirmed cases in NI, the total number of confirmed cases is now 2,088, with 13,672 individuals tested
• In the Republic of Ireland, 38 more people with Covid-19 have died, and the figure for total deaths in the Republic of Ireland now stands at 444
• Northern Ireland's coronavirus lockdown is to be extended until 9 May

• The NI economy is enduring its "fastest and deepest" decline ever, Ulster Bank’s chief economist Richard Ramsey says
• Coroner Joe McCrisken says more testing is needed to provide clarity on how coronavirus is affecting life in NI

• Close family members will be able to say goodbye to dying relatives in hospitals and care homes under new coronavirus guidelines, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock says

NI Secretary Brandon Lewis has held a "virtual round-table" meeting with business representatives in Northern Ireland "to discuss the ongoing challenges of Covid-19 for their sectors and staff".

The Northern Ireland Office said Mr Lewis "underlined the government’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to support businesses through this unprecedented challenge" and would work closely with the NI Executive, "to ensure it has the information and support needed to mitigate the impact of this outbreak".

It added that he "recognised the concerns of business leaders and their employees during this difficult and uncertain time and highlighted the support packages the UK government has made available".

Ulster Bank’s chief economist Richard Ramsey said today the Northern Ireland economy is enduring its "fastest and deepest" decline ever.

His comments came as the bank’s monthly survey showed the steepest ever fall in activity.

Health Minister Robin Swann says the HSC Workforce Appeal has had 18,354 expressions of interest, which have been converted into 10,777 formal applications to date.

He was speaking at Stormont earlier today.

Mr Swann says this is "a conversion rate of nearly 59%: double what could normally be expected in a recruitment campaign".

Mr Swann added that in less than than three weeks, almost 300 people have been offered or appointed to posts, with more than 3,000 "now job ready or about to be job ready, subject to completion of final checks".

Image source, House of Commons

DUP Parliamentary Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has welcomed an announcement of an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which covers 80% of workers' pay, and will take applications from Monday from companies that have laid off workers.

Sir Jeffrey said the party had written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week "urging him to consider some changes to the government’s economic supports in this Covid-19 crisis".

Initially, the scheme only supported those already employed on 28 February. The cut-off date is now to 19 March.

"The original cut-off date for the Job Retention Scheme had proven detrimental for some employees in Northern Ireland therefore this new date of 19 March is a very welcome step forward," Sir Jeffrey said.

"Thousands more employees will now be eligible for the scheme."

DUP MP for North Antrim, Ian Paisley, has also backed the move.

Health care professionals from across Northern Ireland continue to ask that people stay at home and follow the coronavirus restrictions that are in place.

Image source, Getty Images

More than 200,000 more employees could now be furloughed following changes to the government scheme to help pay people's wages.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which covers 80% of workers' pay, will take applications from Monday from companies which have laid off workers.

Initially, it only supported those already employed on February 28. The cut-off date is now to 19 March.

However, many recently employed workers will still miss out.

Read more on this story here.

In Wednesday's government briefing, Health Minister Matt Hancock announced a number of measures to support social care workers.

As part of this the government is launching a new brand, a small green badge with the word 'care' written on it, which would "symbolise the entire care profession".

It can be used as a pin for social care staff to identify themselves in public, and receive the same benefits as NHS workers, such as preferential shopping hours.

Mr Hancock said rules around testing in care homes would be "strengthened".

As part of this, all care home residents who are discharged from hospital will be tested before being admitted into their care home.

He said there would be a major recruitment drive into the social care sector and a supply network involving the Royal Mail delivering personal protection equipment directly to workers would be set up.

He also said that advance care plans "such as do not resuscitate orders" would not "be applied in blanket fashion to any group of people".

The Department of Health says a coronavirus testing facility for healthcare staff in the north west will open this week.

"The SSE Arena facility [in Belfast] is part of a NHS-wide testing initiative for staff.

"A second facility is opening at City of Derry Rugby Club this week as part of this initiative," said a spokesperson.

"We are actively exploring ways to increase testing in a number of areas including independent sector and domiciliary care providers and key workers in other agencies.

"We are also exploring using testing capacity for Covid-19 surveillance in the community.”

So many organisations are making and donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers.

Limavady High School has been distributing PPE to local care homes and a GP surgery in the area.

The Kilkeel Coastguard has a message for anyone hoping to show their support for the NHS by releasing a lantern - please don't.

They are a hazard to pets, wildlife and people. Instead, if you're taking part in clap for our carers tomorrow night, clap your hands, rattle a tamborine or bang a saucepan.

There are no woods and, but you are sure of a big surprise – if you happen to walk past Jenny and Morris Corrin’s house in east Belfast.

The couple, who are self-isolating, have made their front garden a must-see for those out on their (once a day) exercise.

They’ve lived with their teddy bear collection for 40 years and the bears usually reside on the stairs but, like many of us, were starting to get a bit claustrophobic.

Their grandchildren suggested bringing them out to cheer people up.

“They love it – they’re getting lots of vitamin D,” said Morris.

"The first day we just put out four bears round a table for a teddy bears' picnic and thought ‘We better do something different tomorrow'."

They’ve had a boardgame extravaganza, a cricket match complete with umpire and scoreboard, a Lego day and on Easter Sunday there was an church service complete with bibles and egg painting.

One child, who is a neighbour, said he liked Easter Sunday as normally they go to Mass, but got to see the bears do it instead this week.

What have the Corrans dreamed up for tomorrow?

"Normally when the bears come in at night, I ask them to think about it and in the morning, they give me an idea," said Morris

Robbie Meredith
BBC News NI Arts and Education Correspondent

There is no "perfect" solution to awarding GCSE, AS and A-Level results this summer, Education Minister Peter Weir has said.

He was addressing MLAs on Stormont's education committee earlier.

Exams due to take place in May and June have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Weir said an announcement on alternative arrangements for results was "very imminent".

Pupils in England found out two weeks ago that their exam results would be awarded by means of predicted grades.

Similar arrangements are likely to be put in place in Northern Ireland.

But Mr Weir still has to decide whether delayed AS exams should take place in the autumn.

AS Levels make up for around 40% of an A-Level mark in NI.

Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan was asked at a press conference about reinfection.

He said there is a good chance people are likely to be immune if they have had Covid-19, however there is no test yet so it can’t be taken as a given.

Asked about the order in which restrictions will be lifted, Dr Holohan said: "Work is happening as we speak and we will talk about it again when we meet on Friday.

"Again, it will depend on what has the least impact on the infection rate."

Nursing and residential care home residents showing symptoms of Covid-19 should be tested for the virus, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) has said.

The RQIA said it issued the guidance on 12 April, on behalf of the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency.

"We have now been advised that nursing homes can swab patients (with suitable PPE), while at residential homes the swabbing is conducted by the District Nursing team," the RQIA said in a statement.

On Tuesday Health Minister Robin Swann said 32 care homes in Northern Ireland have been affected by Covid-19.

From Friday 17 April, figures for the number of deaths in non-hospital settings are to be released.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) said that, where possible, its weekly report would also state if the deaths took place in care homes.

There are 484 care homes in Northern Ireland, with a total of 16,000 beds.

Some say easing restrictions in NI should only be done in tandem with the Republic of Ireland.

Professor Sam McConkey, head of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, told BBC News NI that we might need a system to trace contact using mobile phones.

He said GPS data, Bluetooth and QR codes could possibly be used so that “we record everywhere we have been in the last 14 days and then make that information available to people who want to check the contacts of everyone who's had Covid-19”.

Image source, Getty Images

As regards schools reopening he said the question is “how much are children infected, and spreaders and transmitters of the virus”.

“I don't see the scientific data that gives me clear and unambiguous evidence of that," he said.

He said before we start easing, we need effective surveillance in place.

“Surveillance is like the canary in the mine - the bird that watches to see are oxygen levels dying before the miners are dead.

"We need a way to see if there is any gradual early resurgence of Covid-19 in the community, then perhaps you'd have to reverse the restrictions and reapply it.”

Ever thought you had what it takes to be a firefighter?

Well, with Northern Ireland heading for another three weeks of lockdown, now could be the time to see if you're as fit (or unfit) as you think you are.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has shared some exercises that can be done at home and give an insight into the physical fitness needed to be on the fire front line.

Today's figures in the Republic of Ireland reveal that 38 more people with Covid-19 have died.

There are also 1,068 new cases.

The Irish Department of Health issued the figures which included results returned from a German lab.

The figure for total deaths in the Republic of Ireland now stands at 444.

It is increasingly unlikely that the Super Cup NI tournament will be staged this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers of the youth competition are expected to make a final decision before the end of this month.

However, the indications are that the pandemic will force them to abandon the event for the first time in 38 years.

Last month officials said they were taking advice from various experts about the situation.

Read more on this story here.

Marie-Louise Connolly
BBC News NI Health Correspondent

On the one hand, the restrictions are clearly working.

The messages that we're getting, not only from the first and deputy ministers, but also those working on the front line within the health service - is they are not being snowed under as they once thought that they may have been.

That is unless we are not as far into the surge as we thought. But I think we are.

So clearly the hospitals are able to cope.

The health minister gave very positive signs today, but you need to be very careful. You don't want to get such a positive message that people think it is safe enough to go out.

It's not that time yet. Yes, Northern Ireland is doing well compared to other regions, but why are we?

Image source, Getty Images

Well, it's because the fightback campaign, and the social distancing campaign, all of those – we listened and we stuck to it.

But we still need to keep doing it for a little while longer we can't forget the people are grieving. One hundred and forty families are grieving

So one death is a death too many.

We need to keep this going for another little while, if only for the sake of our healthcare workers.