PHA urges people to stay home over Easter

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to stay at home over the Easter break, emphasising how important it is to save lives. The agency has thanked people for practising social distancing and following guidelines about only leaving their homes when necessary. Dr Gerry Waldron, Head of Health Protection at the PHA, said: “Coronavirus is circulating in our community. People are dying. One of the best things we can do to slow its spread is to follow the advice to stay at home. “At Easter, people often spend time with their wider families and go for day trips, but this year we are urging

Guidance on the management of COVID-19/influenza in care homes and other residential facilities

This poster gives advice to care homes on the actions they should take in the case of an outbreak of COVID-19 or influenza.

Essential to look after wellbeing while staying at home

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting how important it is for people to look after their wellbeing as they stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Professor Hugo van Woerden, Director of Public Health and Medical Director at the PHA, said: “Coronavirus, and the impact it is having on our normal way of life, is understandably going to affect people’s emotional and physical wellbeing – concern about the virus and illness it may cause and the effects of staying at home for a prolonged period, will be affecting people’s wellbeing. However, it’s important to

Being more alcohol aware during social distancing

With the government calling on people to stay at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of coronavirus, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is asking people who drink alcohol to think about their drinking habits during this period. Michael Owen, Regional Lead for Drugs and Alcohol at the PHA, said: “Several countries are reporting an increase in home drinking and it’s likely that we are no different. Drinking too much alcohol can seriously damage your health and have a negative impact on those around you. Alcohol is an extremely powerful drug and we need to be careful of how we use it.

Coronavirus advice for people with a learning disability

This booklet explains the latest government advice on coronavirus in an easy read format.

Please note the advice on self-isolation for some close contacts has changed since publication date. Please see 

Your activity record sheet

This fun physical activity record sheet outlines the recommended physical activity guidelines for children aged 5 to 18 and includes an easy way for children to keep track of how much physical activity they are getting.

COVID-19 Surveillance Reports

COVID-19 Surveillance Reports 

From Sunday 19 April the Department of Health will be releasing the daily statistics on coronavirus (COVID-19) which will be available at

Social distancing essential in battle against coronavirus

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to follow the advice on social distancing as an essential part of slowing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and saving lives. Dr Hugo Van Woerden, Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to practise social distancing as a key step in saving lives. The guidance to socially distance ourselves from others applies to everyone. We should all be taking steps to reduce social interaction between people in order to reduce the transmission of coronavirus. “Every one of us has a role to play in this

Newborn blood spot screening (English and translations)

In the first week after birth, all babies in Northern Ireland are now offered screening for six inherited metabolic disorders, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disorders. Most babies who are tested will not have an

The newborn blood spot pre-screening information leaflet for parents includes information about sickle cell disorders (SCD) and medium chain acyl coA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) family history. This pre-screening leaflet should be given to all pregnant women by 30 weeks gestation and reissued to parents following delivery, before day five.

Further information about screening and the care of children with SCD is available at:

For professionals:

Recurrent pregnancy loss

Produced by the PHA in partnership with the Health and Social Care Board, health professionals, Health and Social Care Trusts and service users in response to a clear need from service users, these resources provide reg

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