1,469 new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in Northern Ireland.
Three more deaths linked to the virus have been reported.
Stormont is meeting today to decide whether or not to bring in new Covid restrictions.
The measures under consideration include enforcement on mask wearing, and a new “scores on the doors” system that would rate businesses on their compliance with Covid health advice.
Derry City have completed the signing of midfielder Will Patching on a two year deal.
The 23-year old spent the first half of this season at the Brandywell on loan from Dundalk.
His six goals and six assists in 16 outings made him an absolute fan’s favourite on Foyleside before he was recalled by his parent club at the end of June.
Derry boss Ruaidhri Higgins says there’ll be lots more to come from Will in his second stint at the club:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/higgins1.mp3
New information from the Independent has revealed that Donegal County Council has not established any form of contact with any suppliers of potentially mica-affected defective blocks used in council houses.
It’s believed that when asked, Donegal County Council had “no records” available of any form of communication between them and block manufacturers they are believed to have purchased defective blocks from.
It was also revealed that up to 1,300 Council houses in the county have suspected mica.
People interested in having a rail network in Donegal are being encouraged to attend a special meeting on the topic this weekend.
The West Ulster Rail Initiative is organising the meeting to gauge support for rail in the county with a view towards submitting a report to the inter-governmental review of all-island rail.
It’s getting underway in the Station House in Letterkenny this Saturday at 7pm.
Canon David Crooks is Chairperson of the WURI:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/rail1pm.mp3
Bridge Street and Orchard Street in Derry have reopened following a fire in the area this morning.
It’s understood that the blaze broke out at the popular restaurant Fitzroys in the city centre this morning.
Fire crews were tasked to the scene at around 6am.
It’s believed that the premises has been extensively damaged while a number of nearby buildings have suffered some smoke damage.
An investigation to determine the cause of the blaze is underway.
The eatery say they are devastated and as a result of the fire they will be closed until further notice.
Almost 1,400 customers are currently without power in south Inishowen.
The outage is primarily affecting the town land of Ballymacarry and was first reported shortly after 10am this morning.
Crews have been tasked to the scene and are currently trying to fix the fault the estimated restoration time is 2pm.
Over 3% of primary school children in Donegal have tested positive for Covid-19 over the last fortnight.
A snapshot survey from the INTO has revealed than an average 3.2% of their pupils tested positive for the virus between 1st – 16th November.
The survey also found that 605 teachers were covid-positive over the same period and in almost a third of instances, principals could not find cover for an absent teacher.
INTO President Joe McKeown spoke on today’s Nine Till Noon Show:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/INTO1pm.mp3
A Donegal Minister says a lot of good progress has been made with regards to the Mica Redress Scheme over the last few weeks.
Engagement across Government Departments is continuing with a memo expected to be brought before the Cabinet soon.
Minister Charlie McConalogue is confident that the scheme will serve all affected homeowners.
Minister McConalogue says some remaining work is yet to be done but is hopeful details will be finalised shortly:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/charliemica.mp3
There were 48 awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO.
10 people were on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 38 were waiting on wards.
It’s the second most overcrowded hospital in Ireland today.
Nationally, there were 316 admitted patients are waiting for beds this morning – 236 patients are waiting in the emergency department, while 80 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital.
Firefighters are currently tackling a blaze in Derry.
In a statement police say that the Bridge Street and Orchard Street areas of the city are currently closed due to a building on fire in the area.
People are advised to avoid the area while fire crews tackle the blaze.
