Page 5 - Irish Examiner USA

newsexaminer 5

Death Rate Was Up By Schools Will Take Common IRISH

17.4% In The North Sense Approach To Social

During Pandemic Distancing, Says Norma Foley EXAMINER

ducation Minister Norma
a safe manner that is sustain-
distancing is not a require-
Foley has said home ment. Because of their nature, |
Eschooling is over and that a that would be very difficult to education standards,” she told
able and does not compromise July
commonsenseapproachtosocial sustain, but it can and will be RTE radio.
distancing will take place in sustained in older classes.” “Parents and students and 29th,
schools when they re-open. “We are looking for a bal- society wants schools to re-
The Government anced and common sense open fully open. This is back to 2020
announced its €375 million approach to how we operate in school as normal for our
plan on Monday to get chil- the classroom environment.” school community.”
dren back to school at the end Asked if home schooling is Ms Foley said panels of sub-
of August. over for parents, Ms Foley stitute teachers will be drawn
It included funding to hire said: “Absolutely. The plan up so that substitute teachers
1,000 post-primary teaching that we unveiled yesterday can work in more than one
staff – including 120 guidance puts significant resources into school if and when the need
posts, 600 extra teachers, and schools so they can re-open in arises. C
360 posts for schools having
the most difficulty reopening.
Ms Foley said younger chil-
he death rate in accounting for almost a quar- dren will be taught in bubbles
Northern Ireland rose ter (24.6%) of the total num- or “pods” with a meter
Tby almost a fifth dur- ber of excess deaths in between them and that a com-
ing the coronavirus pan- Northern Ireland. mon sense approach will apply
demic between March and However, the Antrim & to younger children having to
June, new figures have Newtownabbey council area social distance.
shown. had the highest excess deaths “Public health advice
The latest research pub- as a proportion above expect- acknowledges that particularly
lished by the Northern ed levels (28.4%), while Mid for younger children, social
Ireland Statistics and Ulster LGD had the lowest
Research Agency (Nisra) has (7.0%).
indicated there were 885 Meanwhile, Health
excess deaths in the North Minister Robin Swann earlier
between March 1st and June revealed that the PSNI and
30th. Border Force staff are
This was 17.4 per cent involved in helping to enforce
higher than what would be Covid-19 quarantine rules.
expected from five-year annu- At the weekend, Spain was
al trends. added to the list of countries
In the same period, Nisra where people must observe a
noted 837 Covid-19 related 14-day quarantine when they
deaths. return to Northern Ireland.
Most excess deaths (78.4%) Mr Swann said random
and Covid 19 related deaths telephone checks will be car-
(79.8%) involved those aged ried out on returning travel-
75 years and over. In this age ers to ensure they self-isolate.
group, excess deaths were Those who do not could
21.3 per cent above expected face fines of up to £1,000
levels, compared to 17.4 per (€1,097.62).
cent for all ages. “Anyone landing who has
The latest Nisra figures come from a ‘red’ country is
also revealed the number of asked to complete a travel
deaths in hospital was slightly locator form – failure to do
lower than expected levels that is subject to a [financial]
between March and June, penalty,” Mr Swann told the
despite 434 Covid 19 related BBC.
deaths occurring in hospitals. He explained that a compa-
Care homes had similar ny is carrying out the tele-
levels of excess deaths (336) phone checks, adding that in
and Covid 19 related deaths the event of no response, after
(346). three attempts that informa-
The majority of excess tion will be passed on via
deaths (556 or 62.8%) Border Force to the PSNI and
occurred at home, while 44 the Public Health Agency
Covid-19 related deaths who will carry out more ran-
occurred at home. dom checks.
The Belfast City Council At that stage travelers who
area had the largest number still fail to comply will face
of excess deaths with 218, fines. C