The use of the site of the former Maze prison for Northern Ireland's second Nightingale Hospital will not be needed for the current wave of the coronavirus, this afternoon's coronavirus briefing has heard.

First Minister Arlene Foster said the hospital "was always envisaged to be there for the second phase" and new modelling from the health minister would give more detail on this "in the coming days".

Last weekend, Sinn Féin raised concerns about the way involvement of the British Army in Northern Ireland's coronavirus response had been communicated to the executive.

One of the things the Army would be involved in is the construction of the Nightingale Hospital.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she "welcomed" the fact it appeared Northern Ireland's hospitals appeared as though they would have sufficient capacity.

"This wave of where we are at in the disease, it is clear we don’t need an additional hospital," she said.

Some GPs in NI have been calling for patients to wear face masks and the mayor of London has said people should wear them while travelling in the city.

Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health, told BBC Evening Extra that he had changed his view with regards to face coverings.

"Traditionally we've taken the view that face masks, unless properly fitted, provided limited protection to the wearer," he said.

"I think maybe that we were looking at it the wrong way round. Actually with a highly contagious disease, like covid what we should be thinking about is how they can protect others they mix with," he explained.

Image source, Getty Images

"If people do wear face masks in public spaces, they will actually be reducing the possibility of transmission to those who are around them," he added.

He said this was a separate issue to that of personal protective equipment (PPE), for health workers.

"It is simply a means of reducing the amount of aerosol spray and droplets," he said.

He said we would be likely to see more face masks in public, not restricted to health facilities like GP surgeries.

Yesterday it was announced that teachers in Northern Ireland will predict the grades they think pupils would have achieved in cancelled GCSE, AS and A-level exams.

At a briefing, Education Minister Peter Weir said it will "involve teachers using their professional judgement, together with an extensive range of evidence, held by schools and statistical modelling".

It will be based on the combination of information provided by the schools and colleges and that statistical information.

"This is a complex process, and more work will be needed on establishing an appropriate appeals mechanism and arrangements for private candidates," he added.

He said A Level and GCSE marks and ranking from schools have to be with CCEA by 29 May.

He added that it was his priority that "pupils receive fair results that reflect hard work that they've put in, and enable judgements, to be made about their future progression to study or employment or other avenues."

James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

Scientists at the University of Oxford say they should have at least a million doses of a coronavirus vaccine ready by September this year.

They hope to have hundreds of millions of doses for use by the end of 2020.

However, it is still uncertain whether their jab will work as the first patients are not expected to take part in their trials until next week.

Most argue it will take between 12 and 18 months before there is a vaccine that can be widely administered.

Read more on this story here.

Image source, Getty Images

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

Stormont's First Minister and Deputy First Minister are to meet with the head of the civil service David Sterling next week to discuss a"path back to normality" for Northern Ireland.

First Minister Arlene Foster said any lifting of restrictions will be gradual and guided by science.

Mrs Foster added that people must not become complacent and that everyone must stay at home this weekend "as much as possible".

The Mid Ulster Council area is predicted to be the hardest hit economically in Northern Ireland - which is why the council is calling for a financial package to help.

Mid Ulster is the only area in NI to feature in the top 10 worst-impacted places within the UK’s 382 regions as highlighted in a report from the Centre for Progressive Policy

The report presents the likely economic shrinking that will happen in the second quarter of this year because of coronavirus.

Image source, Getty

The council's chair, Martin Kearney, called on the Department for the Economy and Invest NI to bring a package of immediate, substantial and sustained support for Mid Ulster.

"We are already engaging with businesses across Mid Ulster, from manufacturing to retail, to ensure there is a very clear understanding of what the impact is, which will allow us to demonstrate what support is needed and where it should be targeted,” he said.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has told the afternoon briefing "we have not passed the curve yet".

In her address, Ms O'Neill said social distancing measure were having an effect, but cautioned the effort had to be maintained to stop the spread of the virus.

"Your actions today and tomorrow will have an impact on how we come out of Covid-19," she said.

"We are making a difference, we are making a real difference, but we have to keep this fight going because we’re not out of the woods yet."

She added there would be "difficult decisions to make down the line" about when to reopen the economy.

The Stormont Executive will begin work on a "path back to normality" and out of lockdown.

Speaking at the daily briefing in Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster said the Executive will be guided by science and stakeholders to ensure a return to normal life is safe.

Mrs Foster said that as there is no vaccine people should not relax and that "we all need to resist the temptation to see family and friends".

She added: "As we head into the weekend we must remain focused and stay at home as much as possible."

Image source, Reuters

Coronavirus testing will be rolled out to people working in public services such as police, fire and prison staff, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says.

Capacity was rising "sharply" but not as many NHS staff had come forward for tests as had been expected, he added.

No 10 said 18,665 tests were carried out in the 24 hours to 09:00 BST on Thursday but there had been capacity for at least 38,000.

Read more on this story here.

First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill have begun the daily update from Stormont - watch live by hitting the play button at the top of the page.

CBI Northern Ireland Director Angela McGowan says extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to the end of June "will help protect the economy and prevent unnecessary job losses through this new lockdown phase".

"The government deserves credit for showing agility in the face of unprecedented challenges," she says.

“No firm wants the scheme to last for longer than it needs to, but it’s absolutely clear that these vital support systems must stay in place until it’s safe for people to return to work and we can begin to restart and revive our economy.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced he is extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - or furlough scheme - to the end of June "to reflect continuing social distancing measures".

The Treasury said the move will allow firms across the UK to continue to protect millions of jobs and that the scheme will continue to be monitored to ensure people and businesses can get back to work as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Image source, Getty

The scheme, which allows firms to furlough employees with the government paying 80% of their wages up to a maximum of £2,500, was originally open for three months and backdated from the 1 March to the end of May.

However, the chancellor said he would keep the scheme under review and extend it if necessary.

Image source, Translink

Translink has unveiled a special makeover for two of its trains.

It's part of the #ChaseTheRainbow movement which aims to boost public morale during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The transport company recently announced it was supporting the campaign using its vehicles, bus shelters, billboards and social media to display uplifting ‘rainbows of hope’ while also promoting important safety advice to stay home and save lives.

Rainbow drawings created by members of the public will also soon appear on buses and billboards in the coming weeks.

Image source, Translink

The leaders of Ireland’s main churches have expressed their deep appreciation and thanks for those working on the frontline during the pandemic.

They have commended health staff for “their work, courage and compassion".

Image source, Getty Images

In a joint statement, they said: “To be a community, in the real sense of the word, means that as individuals we acknowledge our interdependence and work together to achieve something for the greater good, which will benefit us all.

“We have the greatest admiration for our healthcare workers who are literally serving on the frontline in caring for the sick and dying.

"We offer our deepest thanks, commending them for their work, courage and compassion as we continue to remember them in our prayers."

You can watch this afternoon's Stormont briefing on the latest coronavirus developments in Northern Ireland live via the play button at the top of this page - it's due to happen at 16:15.

If you want something to get your feet tapping this afternoon - and show your appreciation to a group of key health workers - tune into the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Facebook page, external at 4pm.

A group of Fermanagh ambulance men will put on a gig on Facebook live, direct from their ambulance depot.

Image source, PA Media

The PSNI say they have "arrested 103 people for drink or drug-driving offences over the last fortnight" despite the lockdown restrictions.

It says there's been "a 60% reduction in traffic flow, the health advice and business closures".

On Wednesday, it was announced that restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 would last until at least 9 May.

The PSNI said that in addition to being detected by police officers on patrol and at vehicle checkpoints, arrests were made "following calls from members of the public, shop and security staff and in some cases, from concerned family members".

PSNI Insp Rosie Leech said it was "particularly disappointing" at a time "when we are all working together to try and minimise unnecessary pressure on our NHS and emergency service colleagues".

Having a baby can be scary at the best of times, but even more so during a global pandemic.

Health chiefs in Northern Ireland hope their new website will help allay some of those fears and answer any questions expectant parents may have.

Eleven people have died in one nursing home in Dublin, according to RTE.

Of those deaths, ten tested positive for Covid-19 and the eleventh person is a suspected case awaiting confirmation.

St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park provides care for older people.

Image source, RTE

The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed that the 11 people died since 2 April.

In a statement, the HSE expressed its sympathies to the friends and families of those who died saying "our thoughts are with them at this difficult time".

Image source, Pacemaker

The Armoy Road Races and Bayview Hotel Race of Legends, which were due to take place on 24 and 25 July, have been cancelled for 2020.

The Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club said the decision had been made in view of the current extension to the "stay at home" restrictions relating to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

"In the light of the recent review by local government and the ongoing economic impact on everyone, we believe that cancelling our event until 2021 is in the best interest of all concerned," it added.