NI facing 500 infections a day if we don’t act now: Mcbride
Chief medic warns of ‘a narrow window’ to stem second wave as 220 more cases recorded
CORONAVIRUS cases in Northern Ireland could reach 500 a day in just four weeks without immediate action, the Chief Medical Officer has warned.
Dr Michael Mcbride issued the stark figures at a Stormont briefing, telling the public they had a narrow window of opportunity to avoid the “ultimate consequences” of a second wave.
It comes as a further 220 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Northern Ireland, while the death toll remains at 577.
A further two deaths have been recorded in the Irish Republic and 234 new cases, including 103 in Dublin.
Dr Mcbride explained there were currently around 150 new cases of Covid-19 a day in Northern Ireland, which has been doubling every ten days.
“I ask you now not to give up, I ask you not to give in. Do not be deflected, do not lose your commitment,” he said.
“We have a few short weeks to reduce the spread of this virus and to avoid much worse to come.
“We have a narrow window of opportunity, we must all act now or we will all face the ultimate consequences that we saw in the first wave.”
The Health Minister spoke of meeting the family who had lost a loved one during the recent outbreak in Craigavon Area Hospital.
“I challenge anyone who still doubts the seriousness of this virus to sit across the table from such a family for even one minute and see how sorely mistaken they are,” Robin Swann said.
He said restrictions on hospital visits will soon be announced, meaning one visit from one family member per week.
This will include flexibility for things like end of life care, maternity services and for paediatrics.
On care homes, Mr Swann said every effort to maintain visiting was needed.
He said his department had been working on the concept of “care partners” allowing families to assist in caring for loved ones.
Following the new restrictions on mixing households, he urged the public to use “common sense and discretion” where grey areas existed in the rules as it wasn’t possible “to police Covid-19 out of existence”.
Mr Swann also subtly criticised Sir Van Morrison, who has attracted recent criticism for releasing songs with anti-lockdown lyrics, quoting the singer’s 1979 song Bright Side of The Road.
“The purpose of these restrictions is to enable us once again to move from the dark side of the street to the bright side of the road,” he said.
Following a backlash, the east Belfast-born singer has since announced he is donating the proceeds of his three new songs to musicians who have struggled financially during the Covid pandemic.
Dr Paul Johnston, clinical lead for intensive care services in Antrim Area Hospital, set out the reality of how Covid-19 was affecting seriously ill patients.
Although 80% of those with Covid-19 were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, he said mortality rates in intensive care remained high.
In the UK, he explained there had been around 10,000 Covid admissions into intensive care with around 40% not surviving.
He said this was roughly double the mortality rate associated with other viral pneumonias in intensive care over the past three years.
Age remains the biggest risk factor in these patients, with those over 70 having a 60% chance of dying of Covid-19 without considering other factors.
For under 40s in intensive care, the mortality was still as high as 15%.
Of around 1,200 Covid-19 hospital admissions in Northern Ireland up until the end of July, this generated around 130 intensive care admissions.
He said any patient admitted to hospital with Covid-19 had a one in 10 chance of needing intensive care, bringing with it the previously mentioned chances of death.
He urged the public not to become “fatigued” by prevention measures.
“Covid-19 is very much still with us and preventative measures are recommended for good reason. They work to reduce the spread of the disease,” Dr Johnston added.
Meanwhile, the hospitality sector has called on the Executive to maintain a closing time of 11.30pm as wet pubs reopen in Northern Ireland.
Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said if closing times are moved to 10pm bar owners could lose out on a crucial window of trade, cutting out 50-70% of an already reduced income.
‘Covid-19 is very much still with us and preventative measures are recommended for good reason. They work to reduce the spread’