Stormont ministers unveil a five-step plan to take Northern Ireland out of lockdown
The plan will be progressed based on scientific evidence, ministers say, but there are no dates for when each step will be enacted
The manager of one of NI’s largest care home providers says the sector was forgotten about at the start of the pandemic
There have been nine more coronavirus-related deaths in NI, according to figures from the Department of Health, bringing its total to 447
Data from Nisra, which includes all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on a death certificate, said 516 people had died with coronavirus in NI by 1 May
A further 627 people have died across the UK bringing the death toll up to 32,692
The Department of Health in Ireland have announced a further 24 deaths, bringing the overall death toll there to 1,488
Here's what's on the BBC's daily list today: Furlough scheme, school and workplace guidance, and the plan in Northern Ireland.
Read in full here.
Image source, Getty ImagesA “ring of steel” should have been created around care homes at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission suggests.
Speaking to BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster programme, Les Allamby said there should have been comprehensive testing of staff and patients.
Image source, Getty Images"There was not sufficient priority given to care homes from the outset. We should have had a comprehensive testing plan in care homes from day one," he said.
"We knew the numbers, we know where everyone is in care homes. It was doable."
The department of health says its Covid-19 planning for care homes began at the same time as planning for hospitals.
Figures released by Northern Ireland's Statistics Agency (Nisra) on Friday show there have been 516 coronavirus-related deaths recorded overall in NI - including 232 in care homes, and four in hospices.
Robbie Meredith
BBC News NI Arts and Education Correspondent
There will be a delay before children find out which post-primary school they will transfer to in 2020.
It is because the Saturday post - except parcels - has been temporarily scrapped by Royal Mail due the coronavirus pandemic.
Image source, Getty ImagesPrimary Seven children were due to find out by letter on Saturday 30 May which post-primary school they would attend.
However, they will not now be told until Thursday 4 June.
The executive is expected to finalise and publish a five-stage plan later today for easing lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland.
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Jim Roddy, manager of Derry City Centre Initiative, tells BBC Radio Foyle's Breakfast Show trading in open-air spaces post-lockdown could be an option.
Mr Roddy said the management organisation was looking at a number of plans for businesses to restart, while still maintaining social distancing.
"We've got a lot of open spaces in our city centre such as Guildhall Square, Waterloo Place and pedestrian zones," he said.
"Should we be thinking differently about that, if maybe restaurants around these areas could trade out?"
However, Mr Roddy stressed this was just one of the options being explored.
As many as 16,000 workers in the hospitality industry could lose their jobs in Northern Ireland, according to new research.
The study has been carried out by the Hotels Federation, Hospitality Ulster and accountancy firm BDO, and found that one in four hotels and one in seven pubs are at risk of closure.
Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, Hospitality Ulster's Colin Neill said he was "scared" of the potential number of job losses.
"That’s 16,000 people losing their income, impacting their families," he said.
Image source, Getty Images"We’ve got to work to bring our industry through this. We were the first hit, the worst hit and probably will be one of the last ones to rebuild."
Mr Neill said the industry report had a 12-point plan looking at reopening, but which emphasised the need for health and safety.
"It is about getting premises open safely, not to make a profit, just to make sure they are sustainable," he said.
He added there was a need for dates from the executive to allow the industry to plan - even if this is for continued closure.
An appeal has been made for people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and recovered to come forward and donate blood.
Speaking on BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster programme, Matt Gillespie from the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service said the plasma could be used in treating people with severe symptoms of Covid-19.
"It is still early days on this trial, they haven’t fully developed the test which measures the amount of antibodies in the plasma, which is the important marker," said Mr Gillespie.
Image source, Getty Images"Once that’s ready and they can measure the tier of the antibody, as it is called, then we will be able to say which donors have had the high levels of antibodies and they’ll be the most useful."
Plasma is the largest single component of blood, and makes up about 55% of total blood volume. It is a clear, straw-coloured liquid, which carries platelets, red and white blood cells.
Once separated from blood cells, plasma can be used in transfusions.
Mr Gillespie also said the pandemic had brought about changes in regular blood donation.
He said travelling to donate blood was considered essential, and a number of measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of donors and staff.
These included working in bigger venues, increased use of personal protection equipment, and donation by appointment only.
Marie-Louise Connolly
BBC News NI Health Correspondent
Siobhan Brameld treats the residents of Masserenne Manor care home in County Antrim like members of her own family.
Siobhan is a care worker who leads the social care team. She has sat with several residents as they passed away having contracted Covid-19.
She told BBC News NI she was convinced some residents had "died before their time".
"I feel as though I am on autopilot - it never leaves my head. Sometimes I worry that I could have done more," she said.
"These are sad times, scary times too," she added.
Marie-Louise Connolly
BBC News NI Health Correspondent
Care home residents and staff felt "forgotten about" at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a manager has said.
Eddy Kerr of the Hutchinson Care Homes group said they struggled to source personal protection equipment (PPE) and maintain safe staffing levels.
People were listening but not responding, he said.
The Department of Health rejected the claims, saying support to fight outbreaks had always been available.
A spokesperson added that representatives of the care home sector had been involved in departmental planning from an early stage.
A very warm welcome from the BBC News NI team this Tuesday morning.
Thank you for joining our live coverage of all the latest developments on the coronavirus crisis in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Image source, Reuters