Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PARTIES OVER
Ulster-wide ban on homes mixing But pubs still set to open tomorrow
LOCKDOWN restrictions were extended across Northern Ireland yesterday in the battle to stop the spread of Covid-19.
The mixing of households was banned and no more than six people from two homes can meet outside. But wet pubs are still set to reopen tomorrow amid “rising infections”.
People were urged to avoid large gatherings as Arlene Foster voiced fears over house parties, disorder in the Holyland area and a pitch invasion after a GAA match.
NORTHERN Ireland closes its doors today after a “no visitors” Covid clampdown was announced.
With rapidly escalating infection rates, the First and Deputy First Ministers said restrictions rolled out in Belfast, Ballymena and Armagh will apply everywhere from 6pm today.
Backed by Chief Scientific Adviser Prof Ian Young, they confirmed people will still be able to go out for a pint tomorrow when so-called “wet pubs” are allowed to reopen.
He said medical and scientific advice to go to an Ni-wide restrictions model was delivered to the Executive and a decision reached by afternoon. The decision making process was “very nimble”, he said.
First Minister Arlene Foster said there had been a “significant and rising” number of positive cases of Covid-19 and there was “clear and unequivocal evidence” that situation was getting worse.
But she insisted the clampdown, which means there can be no mixing of two households indoors, except for single-person bubbles and certain other exemptions, is “not a return to lockdown”.
The DUP leader added we all need to “pull together”, as we did previously before referencing the controversy following a Tyrone GAA match over and ongoing disorder in the Holyland.
Mrs Foster said: “Whether they ran onto the pitch at a GAA match, partied in bars afterwards, swarmed the Holyland or crowded into house parties, that behaviour isn’t just a risk to those present, but for everyone they come into contact with.”
She added a Stormont enforcement group was examining how to clamp down on such behaviour.
Mrs Foster added: “We intend to take this matter very seriously.”
Deputy First Minister Michelle
O’neill said the “majority” of cases come from “household interactions”.
Prof Young warned, when looking at France and Spain, Northern Ireland is in a “lag” ahead of the increase in infections turning to a rise in deaths.
He said the number of hospitalisations remains small but had increased by 50% over the last week.
Prof Young added the opening of pubs, like any relaxation, carried
“associated risks” but that with mitigations, those risks can be “limited”.
He said: “The virus is everywhere and will spread everywhere, and hence our advice is that generalised restrictions are required. This is a proportionate response to the increased number of cases.”
The restrictions, as announced last week, also mean no more EVIDENCE Prof Ian Young than six people from two households can meet in private gardens.
Mrs Foster said: “I hope by taking action at this early stage means we can prevent more draconian measures.
“It is in an environment where we feel safe and relaxed that we drop our guard. The mixing of households indoors provides one of the best opportunities for the spread of the virus.” Prof Young said between 2% and 4% of tests are now positive and show increased community transmission.
He added the reproductive rate of the virus has risen to 1.4 and in some local districts would be about two.
Mrs Foster said: “This is not returning to lockdown. Doing nothing was not an option but neither is returning to full lockdown.”
Ms O’neill said people were “fed up and tired” with Covid, but it posed a real threat.
She added: “Covid-19 has been allowed to get a foothold in our community and we need to take action now. This is a fight back – the months ahead will be difficult.”
Prof Young added there is “some evidence” of a decrease in cases in Ballymena after the localised restrictions were introduced there.
Two more Covid-linked fatalities were reported over the weekend to bring the death toll to 577.
There were also 125 new infections in the last 24-hour reporting period.