The total number of deaths linked to coronavirus in NI since the start of the pandemic is 2,430.
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Johnson defends social care tax rise ahead of vote
The PM says the levy will help with "catastrophic costs", but Labour says it is unfair on working people.
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Johnson defends social care tax rise ahead of vote
The PM says the levy will help with "catastrophic costs", but Labour says it is unfair on working people.

Minister admits mistake over Rashford-Itoje mix-up
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confuses the England footballer and rugby player in an interview.

Green and amber lists could go in travel shake-up
The BBC has been told that the green and amber categories could be removed and replaced with a new system.

Government to shorten HGV driver testing process
Government to fast-track lorry drivers to alleviate chronic shortage, BBC understands.

Choking sex death jail term reviewed after outrage
Campaigners say the sentence given to Sophie Moss's killer sends a "dreadful message".

Video 38 seconds
How Winchcombe meteorite driveway was removed
A painstaking operation takes up part of a Gloucestershire driveway struck by a valuable meteorite.
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Johnson defends social care tax rise ahead of vote
The PM says the levy will help with "catastrophic costs", but Labour says it is unfair on working people.

Minister admits mistake over Rashford-Itoje mix-up
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confuses the England footballer and rugby player in an interview.

Green and amber lists could go in travel shake-up
The BBC has been told that the green and amber categories could be removed and replaced with a new system.

Government to shorten HGV driver testing process
Government to fast-track lorry drivers to alleviate chronic shortage, BBC understands.

Choking sex death jail term reviewed after outrage
Campaigners say the sentence given to Sophie Moss's killer sends a "dreadful message".

Video 38 seconds
How Winchcombe meteorite driveway was removed
A painstaking operation takes up part of a Gloucestershire driveway struck by a valuable meteorite.
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Minister admits mistake over Rashford-Itoje mix-up
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confuses the England footballer and rugby player in an interview.

Green and amber lists could go in travel shake-up
The BBC has been told that the green and amber categories could be removed and replaced with a new system.

Government to shorten HGV driver testing process
Government to fast-track lorry drivers to alleviate chronic shortage, BBC understands.
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Covid certification 'a reasonable response to a very difficult situation' - FM
Copyright: Getty ImagesThe first minister says the Scottish parliament will debate and vote tomorrow on the principle of a "limited, targeted and proportionate" system of vaccine certification.
The government will publish a paper setting out in broad terms how the scheme will operate, she says.
Scotland is far from alone in considering such a scheme, Ms Sturgeon says, and similar schemes have already been introduced in several countries across Europe.
In the Scottish government's view, Covid certification "is a reasonable response to a very difficult situation, and much more proportionate than any likely alternatives", she says.
It will help reduce the overall harms caused by the pandemic, reduce transmission in some higher-risk settings, and maximise protection against serious illness, the FM adds.
Further advice expected on a third 'booster' vaccine
Copyright: Getty ImagesThe Scottish government is also still awaiting further advice from the JCVI on a booster programme of vaccinations for people with certain health conditions, the first minister says.
Two doses may not be sufficient to enable those with compromised immune systems to mount a full immune response to Covid, she says.
"We are now moving to implement this advice over the next few weeks and we will provide further advice to those affected by it shortly," Ms Sturgeon adds.
The same applies for a more general booster programme, she says.
No decision yet on vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds
Copyright: Getty ImagesThe first minister addresses the issue of vaccination for 12 to 15-year-olds, pointing to updated analysis from the JCVI last Friday.
She says the JCVI concluded that the health benefit of vaccinating that group does marginally outweigh any risks.
But because it considers children to be at relatively lower risk of serious health harm from the virus, at this stage it has decided not to recommend vaccination is offered all 12 to 15-year-olds.
But in considering the likelihood of reducing disruption to education, the chief medical officers of the four UK governments will undertake a "rapid assessment of the latest evidence", the FM says.
She expects that "within days", she adds, and the Scottish government will then act in accordance with any recommendations received.
Breaking5,810 more positive cases reported in Scotland
The latest Public Health Scotland figures published by the Scottish government show a further 5,810 people have tested positive for Covid-19, 10.8% of the 57,128 new tests carried out yesterday.
There are 883 people in hospital with a recently-confirmed case of Covid, of which 82 are in intensive care.
There have been 17 more deaths reported in the past 24 hours of people who tested positive in the last 28 days, bringing the total by that measurement to 8,198.
The vaccine programme in Scotland now shows that 4,130,841 people have received their first dose, with 3,749,767 having received their second dose.

By David Gregory-Kumar
Science, Environment & Rural Affairs, BBC News
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BBC News NI political correspondent




















































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