Was Northern Ireland COVID-19 testing at a rate 10 times Scotland’s?

Posted on by FactCheckNI

UPDATE: On 19 May 2020, the following claim was revised by Guido Fawkes. We have published an addendum to our article.

CLAIM: Northern Ireland was testing for COVID-19 at a rate 10 times that of Scotland, reported on 9 May 2020.

CONCLUSION: INACCURATE. Northern Ireland’s test rate for the day of 8 May 2020 was about three-quarters (80%) that of Scotland.

On 11 May 2020, the blog website Guido Fawkes published an article, “How the four nations compare on Covid”, in which it claimed: “Using data from the regional public health authorities published on May 9, it would seem that Northern Ireland is way ahead of the other regions, it was testing at 10 times the rate of Scotland, which is testing at the lowest rate.”

Continue reading Was Northern Ireland COVID-19 testing at a rate 10 times Scotland’s?

What is Northern Ireland’s COVID-19 recovery strategy?

Posted on by FactCheckNI

This article explains the Northern Ireland Executive’s COVID-19 recovery strategy.

[It is part of the COVID-19 Information Dissemination (COVID-19 ID) Project — a partnership between Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) and FactCheckNI. Its aim is to improve people’s health literacy about COVID-19 by providing accurate and up-to-date information which will increase knowledge, understanding and confidence and enable people to make good health decisions.]

Northern Ireland’s COVID-19 recovery strategy

On 12 May 2020, the Northern Ireland Executive launched their COVID-19 recovery strategy, Coronavirus: Our Approach to Decision Making.

The document outlines a roadmap for relaxing COVID-19 related restrictions in Northern Ireland.

At the end of April, FactCheckNI published an explainer article about the existing ‘lockdown’ rules for Northern Ireland.

What are the new guidelines?

Many of the previous regulations remain in place. However, the new document outlines five steps in each sector for easing restrictions. Most, but not all of step 1 relaxations, across all sectors, have been announced on a case by case basis since the plan was published. The main phases in each sector are: Continue reading What is Northern Ireland’s COVID-19 recovery strategy?

Is this an image of a Nazi flag flying in an area of Belfast celebrating VE Day?

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CLAIM: Images are being shared on Facebook claiming that Nazi flags were being flown in areas of Belfast in which loyalists were celebrating VE Day.

CONCLUSION: INACCURATE. The images are from Carrickfergus in July 2015. Continue reading Is this an image of a Nazi flag flying in an area of Belfast celebrating VE Day?

Are these workers trapped by bollards they’ve installed outside a hospital in Belfast?

Posted on by FactCheckNI

CLAIM: Workers have trapped their van inside bollards they are installing outside a hospital in Belfast.

CONCLUSION: INACCURATE. The building is an office block in Manchester, not a hospital in Belfast. And the bollards are removable.

Continue reading Are these workers trapped by bollards they’ve installed outside a hospital in Belfast?

Statement: COVID-19 death rate fact check

Posted on by FactCheckNI

Statement: COVID-19 death rate fact check
FactCheckNI
1 May 2020

On Friday, 24 April, FactCheckNI published a fact check, “Are COVID-19 deaths in Northern Ireland 50% higher than Ireland?” The fact check was in regards to an article published earlier that week on Wednesday 22 April in the Irish Times, “Coronavirus: Ireland is one island with two different death rates”. The content of this article was shared on Facebook’s platform, as well as other social media platforms. Continue reading Statement: COVID-19 death rate fact check

What are the rules of lockdown in Northern Ireland?

Posted on by FactCheckNI

This article explains what the rules of “lockdown” during COVID-19 are in Northern Ireland.

[This article is part of the COVID-19 Information Dissemination (COVID-19 ID) Project — a partnership between Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) and FactCheckNI. Its aim is to improve people’s health literacy about COVID-19 by providing accurate and up-to-date information which will increase knowledge, understanding and confidence and enable people to make good health decisions.]

Summary

Northern Ireland is currently under ‘lockdown’ since 23 March with citizens practicing social distancing to contain the spread of COVID-19. All citizens must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse or necessity for leaving.

    • Legislation was enacted on 28 March which governs enforcement by the PSNI.
    • Legislation was amended on Friday 24 April to include the opening of cemeteries and to allow for short distances travelled to safe places or facilities for exercise.
    • As of 25 April 2020, since lockdown began the PSNI has issued 570 cautions and 358 penalty fines (00:45).
    • The Irish Government have introduced ‘stay at home’ measures until 5 May with travel for exercise restricted to a 2km radius from the residence.

Continue reading What are the rules of lockdown in Northern Ireland?