Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Here to stay
Warns advice to avoid surge by self-appointed experts’
above 500 and has more than doubled within the last week.”
Chief medical officer Dr Michael Mcbride also highlighted there was a rising trajectory of cases.
He pleaded: “Our health and care workers don’t wish to see you clapping once more, they need you to demonstrate your commitment and support by recommitting to the advice and measures that have gotten us this far to date.”
There have been 828 new cases of Cov id-19 in Nor th ern Irel and confirmed in the last 24 hours and one further death, according to the Department of Health.
Prof Young said there is a 30-day lag between an increase in cases and a significant rise in hospital admissions.
“We’re now beyond that period and we’re seeing a signif icant increase in hospital admissions and bed pressures.”
Mr Swann said the worst fears in the first wave were not realised however he stressed that “wasn’t because they were inaccurate or invalid”, but because the public took “the necessary actions to protect yourselves and others”.
He added: “I am worried that this may not happen to the same extent this time.
“Appeals may be falling on too many deaf ears undermined by selfappointed experts. Let me be very clear. The warnings we have issued in recent weeks are unfortunately coming true.
“Covid looks set to be with us for some time, difficult decisions will keep needing to be taken. Mr Swann said it “beggars belief quite frankly” that some object to wearing face coverings in shops. It’s just a piece of cloth, it’s not too much to ask but it does make a difference.
“And sadly as we’ve been warning for weeks what would happen, the recent upsurge in infections is leading to an increased number of hospital admissions. Meanwhile, Fi r st Mi n i st e r Arl e n e Fo st e r acknowledged that people are “fed up” with Covid-19 and “want it to be over and done with” but urged continued compliance with rules.
The Executive is due to meet today to discuss further restrictions.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill said that from a scientific perspective, it “seems unlikely” the current restrictions will be sufficient to bring the R number back to less than one.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to “step up” to save jobs, describing the new support scheme to replace furlough as “not enough”.
In his briefing Finance Minister Conor Murphy said there was an onus on the Treasury to provide additional financial support to the region if it had to enter a fresh period of widespread restrictions.
He announced a £350,000 Executive-funded grant scheme to support hospitality businesses impacted by added localised restrictions in force in the Derry and Strabane Council area.