Northern ireland

The tent can hold 750 people. With social distancing, that makes around 250, roughly the usual capacity of the city’s Playhouse theatre. Some of the shows from the Playhouse summer season have now been transferred to the big top, bringing 85-90% of the original ticket-holders with them. Safety measures include keeping two sides of the tent lifted to increase ventilation. Audience confidence is critical, says Crocker. He recalls the government briefing on 16 March when the public was told not to visit theatres; he thinks that association with risk will persist. “It’s been five months since we closed our buildings. If we don’t start bringing people back together in a safe way to experience live performance then it will be even harder when we do get to open the buildings.” … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a Herculean effort’: UK theatre festivals adapt for summer of Covid

Donelan did not address the complaints, but said after the meetings: “The measures seek to ensure students have the widest possible variety and most suitable places to study in the coming academic year, while avoiding harmful over-recruitment among providers, which could go against the interests of students and the sector. … [Read more...] about Plan to cap numbers at UK universities to go ahead

His sister-in-law Mildred said last month her husband Willie died seven years ago never knowing what happened to his brother. … [Read more...] about Police find remains of man, 54, who vanished from hospital in Northern Ireland in 1991

Despite the rise, separate Government data today suggested cases could actually be on their way down again after weeks of being on the up. The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which tracks the size of the outbreak by swabbing thousands of people, now believes there are 3,700 people in England getting infected with Covid-19 each day. … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson announces £300million funding for NHS hospitals to adapt to Covid-19 rules in preparation for winter as he pleads with Britons NOT to avoid A&E departments

He said: “It is our duty to keep the events of the past alive in collective memory, including future generations – this is how we ensure that such a conflict never happens again. It is our hope that the nation takes a moment to reflect on the significance of this date, as a milestone that changed the course of history for the whole world.” … [Read more...] about Early May bank holiday 2020 to be moved to coincide with VE Day