Thanks for joining us on the BBC News NI coronavirus livepage.

Here are some of the main developments from today:

• There have been no further deaths from coronavirus, but 43 new confirmed cases, bringing the total number of confirmed positive cases in Northern Ireland to 6,049.
• Twenty-three clusters of Covid-19 cases have been identified in Northern Ireland since contact tracing began in May, with 11 still open.
• Pubs which only serve alcohol will now not reopen until September, after the date was pushed back from 10 August
• All pupils will return to school full-timein Northern Ireland from the beginning of term, the Education Minister Peter Weir has announced.

• The UK economy faces a less severe downturn but slower recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Bank of England.

Schools will still be required to keep most pupils in whole-class bubbles to limit mixing when they reopen at the beginning of term.

All children and young people will return to school full-time at the start of September, including those who attend special schools.

That will mean that previous social distancing measures between pupils will be "relaxed," according to the Education Minister Peter Weir.

In a letter to school principals, Mr Weir said that previous advice requiring social distancing of 1m (just over 3ft) in classes would change.

Image source, Pacemaker

"Strict social distancing requirements between all pupils will be relaxed from a specific distance to the best spacing that can be achieved but will remain in place between adults and, as far as it is practicable between adults and pupils," he said.

"Schools should continue to implement as much social distancing as is practical and where physical capacity and curriculum delivery permit.

"On the return to school, the overriding provision will be a full class return with all appropriate and practical protections put in place."

All pupils will return to school full-time in Northern Ireland from the beginning of term, the Education Minister Peter Weir has announced.

He said the NI Executive had made the decision a "strategic prioritisation" at its meeting on Thursday.

Image source, PA Media

Years One to 10, the minister outlined, will return to class in protected bubbles.

He said there would be efforts to minimise movements between classes for Years 11 to 14.

First Minister Arlene Foster has announced pub openings will be pushed back and confirmed the wearing of face masks will be made mandatory from Monday.

Speaking at Stormont on Thursday, Mrs Foster said there had been an increase in the R number to between 0.8 and 1.8, and that the chief scientific officer believed it was about 1.3.

She said that "because of the concern around the level of community transmission", the opening date for pubs that do not serve food would be pushed back to the start of September and said that decision was "prudent".

She said the decision was "not a reflection on the hospitality sector", and that they had been working with them to address their concerns.

Face masks will now be mandatory in shops from Monday, 10 August.

Mrs Foster said the rule would not apply to shop workers, and that an advertising campaign using the slogan 'wear one for everyone' would be going out on radio and television.

New evidence from the HQIA suggests it may be possible to be reinfected with Covid-19 after having already had it., external

BBC Health reporter Rachel Schraer takes a look at what we know so far about immunity and Covid-19.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

BBC News NI understands that indoor pubs which do not serve food will not be allowed to reopen on Monday.

Last month the executive had given an indicative date of 10 August for their reopening, but said it would depend on the rate of the virus at the time in the community.

It is understood soft play areas that were due to reopen on Friday 7 August have also had their date postponed.

Image source, PA Media

On Tuesday it was announced the Republic of Ireland would be pushing back the dates bars which do not serve food would be able to open.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said the decision on whether bars would be able to reopen would be pushed back to the end of August.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

It is understood the Stormont Executive has made a further shift towards the use of mandatory face coverings in shops - possibly as early as Monday 10 August.

It is not yet clear if enforcement measures will take effect at the same time or on a later date.

Currently the wearing of face coverings is strongly encouraged in shops and enclosed spaces in Northern Ireland.

Image source, PA Media

Ministers have been meeting to discuss a proposal from Health Minister Robin Swann to bring forward the original review date of the policy - it was 20 August.

The NI Executive was due to review the policy on that date and could have then made it law, but there had been calls for the date to be brought forward.

Mr Swann was concerned about mixed messaging from the executive, and it is understood ministers have now changed the policy.

The Department of Health has estimated that the current R-number in Northern Ireland is now "likely to be" more than one.

The R-number, or reproduction number, is the average number of people that one coronavirus-infected person will pass the virus on to.

The current weekly estimate of R is 0.8 to 1.8.

Chief Scientific Adviser Prof Ian Young said that the most recent data "underlines the need for continued vigilance" in Northern Ireland.

But the department said that as community transmission is low in NI, the R-number is "heavily influenced by small local clusters" and is no longer the most important figure for policy decisions.

It said that because the number of positive tests had increased three fold in the last month, this number is "likely to be a more important parameter".

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s art centres and museums will remain closed until January 2021.

They were initially closed in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was taken at a council meeting on Tuesday.

It affects Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in Limavady, Ballymoney Museum, Coleraine Museum, Ballycastle Museum and Green Lane Museum in Roe Valley Country Park.

Image source, Reuters

Many events have been hosted online since the closures.

The council says it will continue to offer online services for the remainder of the year and thanked participants and contributors.

Rachel Schraer
BBC Health Reporter

The current plan is to have most children back in school across the UK by September.

But, with winter and fears of a resurgence of the virus approaching, what role could this play in spreading coronavirus?

How dangerous is coronavirus for children?

Children are at extremely low risk of becoming ill from the virus.

Image source, Getty Images

Adults - and particularly older adults - are far more likely to be seriously ill and die from complications.

The largest study done so far, involving more than 55,000 hospital patients, found that only 0.8% were under the age of 19.

Half of all the people with confirmed coronavirus who were admitted to critical care units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were 60 or older as of 31 July, according to a research charity., external

More than three-quarters were over 50 and fewer than 10% were younger than 40.

Read more here., external

Today's figures from the Department of Health show that there have been four clusters involving more than five people in the Newry, Mourne and Down council area.

In recent days, the seaside town of Newcastle has seen a number of businesses experience outbreaks among staff members.

This graph shows the number of cases in the council area since early March.

Continuing on Talkback, Belfast publican Willie Jack said publicans and licensees deserved adequate notice about reopening.

He said publicans had not been given a lot of time to prepare for reopening or continued closure and urged decision-makers to "be clearer and don’t wait to the last minute".

"I don’t see what is wrong with saying a number of weeks in advance," he said.

"We will abide by whatever they tell us."

Mr Jack suggested restricted opening hours and reduced capacity would be a fairer way forward than continued blanket closure.

"Publicans and licensee are generally sensible people," he said.

"If you brought in pubs shutting at 23:00 or 22:00 that would be less pressure on police and would maybe encourage people to venture out.

"It seems unfair you can go inside and have a meal for and hour and a half or two hours but you can not have one pint for 10 minutes."

There have been 43 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed positive cases in Northern Ireland to 6,049.

There have been no Covid-19 related deaths recorded by the Department of Health in the past 24 hours, which means its death toll remains at 556.

The department’s daily figures are mostly comprised of hospital deaths, where a patient had previously tested positive for the virus.

Louise Cullen
BBC News NI

Twenty-three clusters of Covid-19 cases have been identified in Northern Ireland since contact tracing began in May.

Eleven are still open, with 168 cases of the virus associated with them.

Clusters are defined as two or more cases among individuals associated by a key setting – a workplace, retail or hospitality premises, domestic gatherings and sporting settings – with illness onset dates within a 14 day period.

Nine clusters have had five or more cases associated with them.

Fourteen across Northern Ireland have had fewer than five people.

Smaller clusters may be associated with a larger cluster - for example, a common geographic location or common social setting.

Five have been identified in the past week, with 35 cases involved and 239 close contacts.

As transmission is highest within a household setting, cases linked by living together are not reported as clusters because they are likely to be identified by efficient contact tracing.

Image source, Getty Images

The Public Health Agency says the average number of close contacts linked to cases has more than doubled since July.

The rise may be attributed to the gradual easing of lockdown measures, but may also be explained by relaxing of attitudes to social distancing.

The agency says it won’t go into detail about every incident that emerges, so as not to deter people from seeking a test when they have symptoms.

Testing is available to everyone in Northern Ireland and can be booked online at www.pha.site/coronavirus, external.

From next week, the PHA will publish regular updates on regional cluster activity.

There is growing speculation that the reopening date for indoor pubs in NI that only sell alcohol will be delayed.

SDLP MLA and former publican Pat Catney said it was a “heart-rending situation” for pub owners as they wait for news.

He said many were facing financial difficulties as an end to the furlough scheme looms.

"A lot of these are good, well run pubs and they are find themselves getting into debt where they have not been in debt since they started out in business.," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme.

"This is complete shutdown and lockdown and they need help. If it [reopening] is put back I would call on the finance and economy ministers to look at this.

"It needs addressed, it is livelihoods," he added.

A lack of clarity from universities about how they will protect students who had to shield during lockdown "will pose further risk" to lives, the National Union of Students has warned.

It said a shortage of information about safe study, accommodation and support was "concerning" so close to term.

The government says universities should convey any plans "clearly" to students.

But some students fear they may have to shield in bedrooms and have called for more detail on safety measures.

Beth, who asked us not to use her surname, has been shielding due to Crohn's Disease and a hormone deficiency and says she is concerned about the safety of accommodation and the possibility of a second wave.

Image source, BETH

The Strangford Ferry is to resume a normal service from Monday 10 August.

The ferry, connecting Strangford and Portaferry, had been operating with fewer crossings since April in response to Covid-19 restrictions.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said there would be reduced capacity on board to comply with social distancing guidelines and passengers need to "keep vehicle windows closed or wear a face-covering if in the passenger compartment".

She added: "Payment will continue to be accepted by contactless card or ferry SmartCard only. The health and safety of passengers and crew is of paramount importance at all times.

“This is a very popular service and I am grateful to the local community for their support and patience during these unprecedented times.”

Evidence showing mass temperature screening at airports is not likely to be effective in limiting the spread of Covid-19 has been published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HQIA) in the Republic of Ireland.

Published on Thursday morning, further evidence shows it is unclear if long-term immunity to the Covid-19 virus is possible, suggesting it may be possible to be reinfected.

The summaries of evidence have been put together to support the country's National Public Health Emergency Team.

The first looks at the issue of non-contact thermal screening, and whether this could be used to identify cases of Covid-19.

Image source, Reuters

Mass screening using devices such as infrared thermal scanners were not found to be effective in identifying infectious individuals or limiting the spread of coronavirus, the HQIA said.

The second summary published by HIQA, looks response of the immune system at the immune following infection with the virus.

An antibody specific to the virus was detected in almost all individuals up to three months after being infected.

More than 90% of patients developed a neutralising antibody response but a handful of studies suggested it may be possible to be reinfected.

Image source, DAN KITWOOD

The UK economy faces a less severe downturn but slower recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Bank of England.

It expects the economy to shrink by 9.5% in 2020.

While this would mark the biggest annual decline in 100 years, it compares with an initial estimate of a 14% contraction.

However, the Bank warned that the jobs market recovery would take longer as it held interest rates at 0.1%.

In its first official forecast since the pandemic hit, the Bank said the recovery had been "earlier and more rapid" than it had assumed in May, reflecting a faster easing of lockdown restrictions.

Read more here.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is considering opening a mobile testing unit in Newcastle, County Down, due to a cluster of Covid-19 cases in the area.

Dr Gerry Waldron, from the PHA, said the unit would be "actively considered" this morning.

A number of shops have closed in the seaside town over the past week after staff members tested positive for the virus.

Mr Waldron told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that the tourist nature of Newcastle was a concern.

"We have seen a number of clusters since we started our contact tracing service and this is not at all unexpected," he said.

"Clusters can be anything from two [cases] upwards, some of those clusters are in the Newry Mourne and Down area and Newcastle area.

"People should be very mindful of where they are and where they are going. Crowded situations pose more risk," he said.

Dr Waldron said the contact tracing service was "on top of all the clusters".