A co-ordinated approach to exiting lockdown on the island of Ireland has been discussed between the governments in both jurisdictions, the North’s Deputy First Minister has said. The figures include four deaths within the past 24 hours as well as confirmation of a further 14. The Northern Executive is to publish its “pathway to recovery” next week, which Ms O’Neill said would set out a criteria-led rather than calendar-led approach to emerging from lockdown. There have previously been tensions within the Northern Executive over whether to follow London or Dublin in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. Health is a devolved matter, and Ms Foster has previously said Northern Ireland could exit from lockdown under a different timetable to the rest of the UK.

Source: The Irish Times May 01, 2020 18:33 UTC