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Coronavirus: UU and QUB close campuses

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Ulster University and Queen's University have closed all their campuses for teaching and other activities until further notice.

All face-to-face teaching has been cancelled and libraries, sports facilities and cafes will also close.

Both universities will make all forms of teaching available to students online as far as possible.

The number of positive coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland now stands at 62 - a rise of 10 from Monday.

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The total number of tests completed is 1,338.

The total in the Republic of Ireland stands at 292 after 69 new cases were revealed on Tuesday.

"People with mild symptoms - new persistent cough and/or fever - should stay at home and self-isolate," the Department of Health said.

"They will not require testing and will not therefore be included in testing totals."

'Level of risk'

Meanwhile, an umbrella body for Catholic school principals has said schools in Northern Ireland should close immediately.

An open letter to the education minister said many parents had "already started making your decisions for you by keeping children at home".

Kieran O'Neill, chairman of the Catholic Principals' Association, called on Peter Weir to "show leadership in line with the department of education in the Republic of Ireland and close all schools with immediate effect".

"The level of risk associated with keeping schools open is high," he said.

"The close interaction of staff, children, parents and visitors increases the likelihood of community transmission of Covid-19."

On Monday, Peter Weir said schools would close in the future but he would "not be giving weight to popular opinion on social media".

All schools and colleges in the Republic of Ireland have been closed.

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland has repeated his call for Stormont to consider closing all schools over coronavirus.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, Archbishop Eamon Martin said "a specific date" of closure was needed.

Since Monday, special schools in Belfast have been closed indefinitely.

PA Media Two women in face masks take a picture with a man dressed as St Patrick near the Temple Bar in DublinPA Media
St Patrick's Day in Dublin is a much lower-key affair this year but a few turned up, albeit wearing precautions

A number of schools have already closed for the rest of the week to allow staff to prepare for home learning in the event of extended school closures.

Some politicians, including Sinn Fein's vice-president Michelle O'Neill, have been calling for all schools to close immediately.

On Saturday, First Minister Arlene Foster said when schools shut in Northern Ireland, it would be for at least 16 weeks.

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The Irish government confirmed 54 new cases of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 223.

Two people have died from Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar has said the country would be dealing with the emergency for months to come.

Other developments include:

  • Almost all St Patrick's Day parades have been cancelled across the island of Ireland
  • The NI Executive has announced a package of measures to try to mitigate against the worst effects of Covid-19
  • There will be an upscaling of communications to the public from the NI Executive, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon says
  • Many leisure centres in Northern Ireland have been closed in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus
  • A full-time National Public Order Unit is being set up in the Republic of Ireland
  • Stormont's Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced new measures to ensure the continued delivery of important social security services
  • The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which was set to return to Londonderry this summer, has been postponed
  • The Balmoral Show in Northern Ireland has been postponed until August
  • The North West 200 motorcycle road races have been postponed
  • Belfast City Council has agreed to close the Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall in Belfast until 17 April, in response to Covid-19
  • Belfast City Hall cancels weddings and civil partnership ceremonies from Monday 23 March until May at the earliest
  • National Museums NI is closing its four museums from the end of Tuesday
  • Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson, says all meetings, services, events and parades "should cease immediately and until further notice"

The Foreign Office has advised British nationals should avoid non-essential foreign travel to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

The restrictions will be in place for 30 days initially but could be extended, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the House of Commons.

Officials in the Republic of Ireland have recommended all Irish residents avoid non-essential travel overseas until 29 March.