Swann: flouting the rules like slapping nurse in face
Health Minister urges public to stay at home as new lockdown measures set to come into force
THOSE who continue to flout health regulations in Northern Ireland might as well be “slapping a nurse in the face”, the Health Minister has said.
Robin Swann took aim ahead of tough new measures coming into force.
“We need to stay home and restrict our contacts as much as possible. It is that straightforward and that simple,” he said.
“If anybody out there still thinks that Covid is a joke, a hoax, I’ll say to them ‘catch yourselves on’. What they do is akin to slapping a nurse in the face.”
But there was confusion over how some new measures would work. A rule initially stating that “maximum of six people from one household or support bubble can meet in the garden with children under 12 counting towards the permitted total” is being revised after it was pointed out that this could ban large families from sitting outside their home.
Officials also moved to clarify a statement by the chief scientific adviser that shielding is to resume in Northern Ireland. Rather than advising the vulnerable to stay at home, the revised advice allows for limited movement in line with guidance in England.
THE Northern Ireland Executive is revising one of its new coronavirus restrictions that could have stopped some families from going into their gardens.
On Tuesday night, contradictions were soon pointed out as the Executive offered new guidance.
Under its “additional restrictions” it stated that a “maximum of six people from one household or support bubble can meet in the garden with children under 12 counting towards the permitted total”.
However people were quick to remark that that essentially meant you were sitting outside with the people in your house — instead of indoors.
One family pointed out that, as they were a family of seven, this meant that not even all of them were allowed to sit outside together.
The Executive office told the Belfast Telegraph yesterday that this advice will be superseded by an update from the Department of Health in the coming days.
Instead, the current position remains, until an update is provided, that for garden gatherings it is up to six people from no more than two households that can meet up outdoors in a private garden, but you should maintain social distancing.
And children aged 12 and under are not counted in this total.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph dad of five Pol Gallagher said his family has been left bemused.
“It’s a total mess, making decisions changing decisions,” he said. “Stormont needs to get these things right. It’s undermining efforts of people trying to abide by what the lockdown restrictions actually are.”
Yesterday in the Assembly First Minister Arlene Foster gave an overview of the new restrictions and when referencing the number of people who can gather in a garden Mrs Foster said that the Department of Health was “working through” the details and there would be “clarity” to come on the matter.
Last night the NI Direct website was updated with the latest restrictions which remain in place until February 6 and will be reviewed on January 21.
It also said that everyone must now stay at home unless they had a reasonable excuse.
Earlier the head of the police federation Mark Lindsay questioned the practicality of the PSNI being able to enforce the new regulations and whether officers had the power to cross the threshold of a residence.
He told the BBC’S Stephen Nolan show: “We have been quite disappointed over the past year in some of the legislation that we think has been rushed, hasn’t been properly thought through, and police are left to pick up the pieces.”
Mr Lindsay said it would be easier if travel restrictions were in place in that officers could tell from someone’s driving license if they were in breach of regulations.
He questioned how is it practical to enforce gatherings in gardens of hundreds of thousands of homes — many of which are inaccessible. However Justice Minister Naomi Long told MLAS yesterday that officers did have the power of entry.
“The health protection regulations as laid by the department of health gave those tasked with enforcement the power to take any actions necessary to enforce any legal restrictions and it is the view of the Executive that that includes the right of power of entry,” she told MLAS.