well as the scrapping of school bubbles and the rule of six. but requirements for face coverings and social distancing remain, while post-primary pupils will still need to wear face coverings. 13 august – medics warn it is inevitable that more operations will be cancelled as covid continues to place pressure on the health service. 14 august – the first of a series of walk-in vaccination clinics for new and expectant mothers is held by the western health trust. the apprentice boys of derry hold their annual relief of derry parade in the city, though the event is scaled back due to covid. 15 august – doctors in northern ireland have urged visitors to hospitals and clinics to wear face coverings. 16 august – organisers of the annual féile an phobail event in west belfast have described 2021 as its most successful year, with its largest attendance ever, encompassing 250 events over ten days, including three with over 10,000 attendees. 18 august – official figures show that during the period from april to june 2021, house prices in northern ireland were 9% higher than the same time in 2020, the largest rise since 2007 and the largest quarterly rise since 2016. 19 august – with 86% of northern ireland's adult population having received at least one covid vaccine, health minister robin swann sets a target of 90%, saying it could halve the number of people in hospital. ulster university is to ask all of its staff and students whether they have received a covid vaccine. 20 august – northern ireland records its highest number of daily covid cases since the start of the pandemic, with 2,397 new cases reported. 21 august – walk in vaccination centres are open again for anyone over 18 to get their first covid vaccine in what is dubbed the big jab weekend. the latest health figures show that northern ireland has the highest covid infection and death rate in the uk, and the lowest vaccination rate. 22 august – early estimates suggest more than 8,000 first covid vaccinations have been given during northern ireland's big jab weekend. 23 august – figures from the department of health show 12,194 people received their first vaccination during the big jab weekend. 25 august – stormont's economy committee sets 12 september as the launch date for northern ireland's high street voucher scheme. 26 august – with half of patients waiting for a first consultation having waited for longer than a year, health minister robin swann apologises for the length of waiting lists in northern ireland. 28 august – a report produced by health professionals at queen's university belfast highlights what it describes as a "surge" in children's health problems expected to result from the covid crisis, including effects on their mental health. the royal black institution holds its last saturday parades for the first time since 2019, with 17,000 marchers and bandsmen taking part. 29 august – patients are urged to not attend hospital emergency departments unless it is urgent as hospitals are placed under pressure because of covid patients. 30 august – hospital emergency departments continue to urge patients to stay away unless they have a medical emergency as covid continues to place the health service under pressure. 31 august – deputy first minister michelle o'neill confirms she is self-isolating after testing positive for covid-19. september 2021 3 september – education minister michelle mcilveen announces a £5.5m package for schools to help with the increased financial pressure of covid-19 and contact-tracing. 6 september – the uk government unveils a new health and social care tax to help address the patient backlog and shortfalls in social care provisions. northern ireland will receive an extra £400m per year from the tax, but plans for its introduction are criticised by parties in northern ireland as "inequitable" and "regressive". around 400 pupils at larne high school, roughly half of those attending the school, are absent from classes because they have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for covid. 7 september – the northern ireland executive agrees a number of rule changes to take effect from 5pm on friday 10 september. they include raising the number of people allowed to gather in an indoor domestic setting from 10 to 15, the removal of table service requirements from indoor and outdoor settings, and the removal of the requirement for pre-booked tickets and seat reservations for events. people will also be allowed to play pool, darts and gaming machines in hospitality settings, while dancing will also be allowed at weddings and civil partnership receptions. 8 september – bbc news reports the public health agency is to take over responsibility for contact-tracing in northern ireland's schools. health minister robin swann announces plans for "jabbathon", an initiative to vaccinate university students on campus. 9 september – stormont is recalled to discuss levels of covid-related school absences. 10 september – in a detailed letter to school staff, pupils and their parents, chief medical officer, professor dr michael mcbride says that schools are safe for pupils and teachers. 11 september – a pop-up vaccination centre is opened at the limelight music venue in belfast. those getting their covid vaccine there are being given free tickets for a concert at ormeau park. 12 september – the belfast health trust appeals for off-duty nurses to come into work as its hospitals struggle to cope with an influx of patients. 13 september – walk-in vaccination centres are established at 60 university and further education college campuses across northern ireland in a bid to get more students vaccinated against covid. 14 september – details of the £145m high street voucher scheme are revealed, with registration for the scheme opening on 27 september, and the first vouchers expected to be issued on 4 october. 16 september – the northern ireland executive has asked the ministry of defence for military medics to be deployed to hospitals in northern ireland in october. 17 september – the department of health announces a widening of the criteria for flu jabs over the coming winter when flu and covid will be circulating in the population. 18 september – plans are announced to change the traffic lights system for travellers from 4 october, with countries being classed as red or non-red from that date, but unlike england, no changes to the rules regarding tests will be made. the department of health is reported to be considering whether to give saliva covid tests to children with special needs who attend mainstream schools. presently children at special needs schools are allowed to take the tests. 19 september – professor siobhán o'neill, professor of mental health services at ulster university, warns that "misinformation" is creating a "real dilemma" for young people considering whether or not to have the covid vaccine. 21 september – deputy first minister michelle o'neill warns northern ireland's health service is "about to topple over" and faces a "difficult winter" if urgent action is not taken. 22 september – health minister robin swann confirms plans for the establishment of elective surgery hubs to ensure operations can be carried out safely over the coming winter. 23 september – the northern ireland executive agrees 14 october as the next date to ease covid restrictions, but this will be subject to a review on 7 october. 24 september – the northern ireland executive announces changes to covid testing for returning international travellers, bringing it into line with the rest of the uk. 26 september – after sdlp leader colum eastwood calls for the introduction of vaccine passports, infrastructure minister nichola mallon says she has raised the issue with the executive on a number of occasions, describing it as a "no brainer". 27 september – the northern ireland executive agrees to end social distancing restrictions for shops, theatres and a number of other indoor settings in northern ireland from 6pm on 30 september. the website for northern ireland's high street voucher scheme opens, and receives 500,000 requests for applications on its first day, but is dogged by problems due to the level of demand. 28 september – in a letter to the executive, health minister robin swann vents his frustration at delays to the introduction of covid passports, saying it has "significantly limited" the options for easing covid rules. 30 september – at 6pm, social distancing restrictions for shops, theatres and a number of other indoor settings come to an end in northern ireland. instead some indoor venues are asked to voluntarily introduce rules such as proof of double vaccination or a negative lateral flow test. northern ireland residents who hold an irish passport and who were vaccinated in northern ireland become eligible for the eu digital covid certificate. october 2021 1 october – two wards are closed at the ulster hospital in dundonald following covid outbreaks. 2 october – the department of health confirms people who are immunosuppressed will be notified shortly about receiving a third covid vaccine. bus and coach ni, the body representing private bus and coach companies in northern ireland, warns operators are at risk of collapse following the covid crisis. 3 october – around 5,700 people take part in the 2021 belfast marathon, the first to take place in the city since 2019. 6 october – as the temporary £20 increase in universal credit comes to an end, the department of communities submits a £55m bid to stormont to offset the drop. 7 october – the northern ireland executive agrees to scrap the requirement for social distancing in bars and restaurants from 31 october, meaning nightclubs will be allowed to reopen from that date. 9 october – it is confirmed that homeless people and asylum seekers will be eligible to apply for the £100 high street voucher scheme through "trusted partners". 15 october – the department of health announces a £5.5m fund to support gp services in northern ireland over the coming winter. 17 october – infrastructure minister nichola mallon expresses concern for her staff after her office was targeted by anti-vaccine protesters earlier in the week. her comments come in the wake of the murder of conservative mp david amess in southend, england. 19 october – first minister paul givan outlies the northern ireland executive's winter covid contingency plan; measures include the continued legal requirement for face coverings to be worn in indoor settings throughout the autumn and winter, and the provision for the introduction of covid passports in "high risk settings" if cases continue to rise. 20 october – the rules for care home visits are relaxed to allow four people from no more than two separate households to visit each patient, with four such visits allowed per week. 21 october – following its latest meeting on covid rules, the stormont executive confirms the latest raft of changes that will be effective from the end of october. social distancing requirements in hospitality sector businesses will become advisory rather than compulsory, while masks will not be a requirement in nightclubs. dr tom black, chair of the northern ireland branch of the british medical association, warns the health service is facing "its worst winter ever". 22 october – health minister robin swann warns that northern ireland is "facing into the most difficult winter ever experienced". 23 october – health minister robin swann warns that the relaxation of covid rules for the hospitality sector could be reversed if they lead to a surge in cases. 25 october – health minister robin swann urges the executive to further invest in the health service, warning northern ireland cannot rely on military help as a "permanent fixture". the high street voucher scheme closes at midnight; 500,000 vouchers have been issued to date with a further 900,000 expected to be issued in the coming week. 28 october – finance minister conor murphy says he does not anticipate another winter lockdown for northern ireland over the coming winter. 29 october – a reallocation of money exercise by the department of finance means the department of health will get an extra £200m in the coming year. bbc news reports that plans for a dedicated service for people with long covid, scheduled to be on stream by the end of october, have been delayed by the department of health. 31 october – nightclubs in northern ireland are reopened as some remaining covid