Misinformation on virus is an insult to our health workers and those who died, chief medical officer warns

Dear reader,

Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer has made a renewed appeal around “misinformation” relating to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Michael McBride said comments on social media, inaccurate stories and baseless conspiracy theories were undermining efforts to tackle Covid-19 and were an insult to health workers and those who have died.

Stormont’s health minister Robin Swann has expressed concern that Northern Ireland was turned into a “funnel” for people travelling to the Irish Republic from Britain, after Ireland imposed a flight ban.

Robin Swann said the Irish Government did not give the Stormont executive advance notice of the prohibition and suggested ministers could have taken measures to address the increase in passengers if they had known.

The minister spoke out as Michelle O’Neill, the deputy first minister, called for an all-Ireland travel ban which would see no flights coming into the island ofIreland.

Another 16 deaths related to Covid-19 were announced by the Department of Health on Tuesday. The new data released also revealed that another 439 infections have been detected over the last 24 hours.

Alistair Bushe,

Editor

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