Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SCHOOLS ROW
O’neill calls for immediate closures as Foster stands firm Health Minister warns services will struggle to cope
CONFUSION reigned in Northern Ireland last night after the Deputy First Minister broke ranks in a call for immediate school closures.
A total of 29 people are infected with Covid-19 with community transmission identified for the first time in three of the nine new cases.
Michelle O’neill and First Minister Arlene Foster stood side-by-side on Thursday saying they wouldn’t follow the Republic’s coronavirus measures on advice from UK scientists.
But it appears the Executive Office is divided despite a move to the “delay phase” and a raft of impending cuts to non-urgent health services as resources are diverted to fight Covid-19.
Ms O’neill said: “It is our duty to make decisions in the interest of everyone based on all available advice.
“There has been contradictory medical evidence and in that context my view is we should err on the side of caution.
“To protect the public, schools and colleges should now be closed.”
Mrs Foster labelled “school closures” counterproductive on Thursday, saying they would take health workers away from hospitals and put child-minding grandparents at risk when we are 14 weeks away from the peak of the infection.
She added: “There will come a point where we will have to close schools.
“The timing of all of these things is where the science comes in and the modelling which has been done and which continues to be done by those scientists will inform the decision we have to take, both at UK level and at Northern Ireland level as well.”
Health Minister Robin Swann still supported that argument following a meeting with UK Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock at Stormont yesterday.
He said: “Whilst there is obviously much attention on whether schools should close, I will continue to be led by science.
“At this moment in time, I have no evidence to justify school closures and indeed to do so at this stage may even be counterproductive.”
But he also warned a raft of hospital and GP services would be hit in the days and weeks ahead as “resources are diverted to care for coronavirus patients”.
Non-urgent outpatient appointments, day cases, inpatient and diagnostic work and GP services will all be impacted. Mr Swann said: “I want to be frank about the scale of the challenge heading our way. “Health services across the globe are coming under severe pressure. Ours is no different.
“We have now started freeing up resources in our health service to provide hospital care for the most seriously ill Covid-19 patients.
“This is undoubtedly the biggest public health challenge for at least a generation. “I obviously want to apologise to everyone who will have appointments and treatments postponed. Unfortunately, this is unavoidable.” Anyone with a fever or cough in Northern Ireland is now being advised to self-isolate even if they have not been to other affected countries like Italy or come into contact with someone with Covid-19.
Testing for the infectious disease has also been reduced to only the most serious cases – people with underlying health conditions and patient-facing medical staff.
The Republic has shut all schools, nurseries and colleges, banned outdoor crowds of more than 500 and indoor events of more than 100.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris stepped up patrols around supermarkets to assure shoppers, while panic buying continues.
Mr Swann said he is “committed to working in partnership across these islands to protect all citizens” and he would be meeting “senior Irish Government representatives” today.
The only advice that has changed for people here is on how to deal with the disease on a personal level.
Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA Dr Jackie Hyland said anyone who thinks they have the new persistent cough and high temperatures associated with Covid-19 no longer need to alert their GP or call NHS 111.
She added: “If you have any of these symptoms, however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for seven days from when your symptoms started. This applies to everyone.
“If you need to self-isolate, ask friends or family to drop off anything you need, or order supplies online, but make sure these are left outside your home for you to collect.
“If there are other people living in your home, stay at least two metres away from them whenever possible, use your own bathroom facilities if
It is a time of immense anxiety but it is critical we remain calm and united
COLUM EASTWOOD SDLP LEADER YESTERDAY
possible and sleep alone. Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds – each time using soap and water – and stay away from vulnerable individuals such as older people and those with underlying health conditions.”
Surge plans to deal with the virus are expected to be finalised next week, while Trusts and GPS are looking at how they can try to maintain services by telephone and other digital technology where appropriate.
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey also announced a number of benefits changes while the pandemic rages on.
She said: “My Department is making urgent amendments to Statutory Sick Pay, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit regulations.
“The changes include temporary removal of the three-day waiting period for SSP and the seven days for people making new-style ESA claims.
“People who need to self-isolate to protect others will be treated as being ill. They do not need to go to a GP as there is a seven-day allowance for self-declaration.
“In addition, we will treat people claiming new-style ESA and/or UC as having limited capability for work from the start of their claim without a fit note, an assessment or statutory public health notice [and] any work related requirements will be switched off, including the Minimum Income Floor for self-employed claimants.”
Kindhearted community groups are also doing their bit to help the vulnerable among the tens of thousands of over-65s who live alone in Northern Ireland, with offers to collect shopping and prescriptions. Age NI chief Linda
Robinson said: “The coronavirus outbreak is obviously a huge worry and looks likely to be challenging for our older population.
“For that reason, Age NI would like to call on everyone to look out for older friends, neighbours and relatives to make sure they’re OK and have the information they need to protect themselves.”
Nursing homes have closed their doors to visitors while hospitals are asking relatives that one adult drops in on inpatients.
More sporting events and concerts have fallen victim to the virus, while councils also closed public buildings. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: “I recognise it is a time of immense anxiety for people but in the midst of the panic, it is critical we remain calm and united.
“There needs to be a clear and decisive plan and it must be communicated to people immediately.”
Green Party Northern Ireland leader Clare Bailey added: “It’s time for a Covid-19 island-wide response plan and a disaster recovery plan to deal with the fall out of this crisis for our citizens.”