Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ARLENE: LOCKDOWN IS FAILURE
Foster against restrictions on a long-term basis First Minister: We must learn to live with virus
ARLENE Foster has voiced her opposition to prolonged lockdowns to tackle Covid-19, describing them as a “failure” that “will ultimately ensure total despair engulfs all of our people”.
Writing in the News Letter, the First Minister outlines how we need “co-exist” with the virus and avoid repeated lockdowns.
Referencing already publicised differences of opinion around the Executive table over how to tackle the pandemic, she says the “DUP articulated our opposition to another full lockdown”.
Mrs Foster adds: “That is why we re je ct ed a si x-we ek l o ckdown . Importantly, that is why we ensured that after four weeks, the current re st r i c t i o n s c a n n o t si mply b e extended without Executive approval.”
The DUP leader adds that “equally we cannot keep closing the country down or forcing specific sectors to close in order to beat back this virus”.
That strategy, she says, “designed to buy time, is in reality a failure and will ultimately ensure total despair engulfs all of our people”.
The statement also says that “if we need support from other parts of the United Kingdom and/or the military, we wi l l b e pre p ared to supp or t th e Health Minister in asking for it”.
It is unclear if the suggestion is being made that other parties in the Executive were pressing for a longer period of restrictions or a more stringent set of restrictions akin a “full lockdown”.
OPTIONS
The statement has been published i n the wake of the Department of Health releasing its Covid Evidence Bank which outlined options ranging from a full lockdown to those ultimately chosen, i ncluding the closure of bars and hairdressers.
Also yesterday, the Department of Health daily dashboard f i gure s showed 1,042 individuals had tested positive for Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours and that five more people had passed away due to the virus.
In her statement, Mrs Foster said: “Over the last number of days, I have received many messages from people about the situation i n Northern Ireland.
“Many are concerned about their health or that of their loved ones, many are anxious and i n some cases despondent about their jobs and businesses and, above everything, people want to see an end to the Covid-19 pandemic and all the restrictions on their lives.
“I understand and share many of those concerns and worries. Indeed I believe every elected representative, regardless of party label, is trying to do the best they can.
“However, the reality is there are no easy answers or solutions. The threat from Covid-19 is real.
“Our hospitals, and sadly our cemeteries, testify to that. There are 289 p eople i n hospital s across Northern Ireland being treated for the effects of the virus, with 32 in intensive care and 26 of tho se n e eding assistance to breathe from a ventilator as of Tuesday.
“But equally, we cannot keep closing the country down or forcing specific sectors to close in order to beat back this virus. That strategy, designed to buy time, is in reality a failure and will ultimately ensure total despair engulfs all of our people. We cannot allow that to happen.
“Every part of our society must adapt and learn to live with the virus.
“This pandemic has already cost too many lives, too many restrictions on our liberties and within our families and too many jobs, businesses and shattered dreams. The impact on mental health will be unquantifiable for some time to come.
BURDENS
“Our health service, already in need of reform prior to Covid-19, is struggling to cope with the burdens of the pandemic as well the need to treat everyday patients. The rising numbers
We cannot keep closing the country down or forcing specific sectors to close
We must weigh up the impact of restrictions and the effect poverty has on health
Every elected representative, regardless of party label, is trying to do the best they can
of Covid-19 cases meant action was needed to protect our hospitals. Doing nothing was not an option.
“Around the Executive table, DUP ministers have consistently pressed for the Department of Health to publish as much data as possible.
“We have sought to make balanced and proportionate decisions, taking into account the need to protect lives and livelihoods.
“We must weigh up the long-term impact of restrictions and the effect that poverty has upon health.
“With five parties around the Executive table, there will always be different approaches and opinions. The DUP articulated our opposition to another full l ockdown .” The statement comes ahead of today’s Stormont Executive meeting to discuss further support for businesses.
CAPACITY
Mrs Fo st e r a d d e d : “Looking forward, it is vital that plans and actions to take Northern Ireland through this pandemic are built on the foundation that this virus will be with us for some time ahead and society must be able to co-exist with it.
“Key to that must be increasing the capacity of our hospitals and the wider health service to deal with these increased pressures.
“C entral to a successful path forward too must be scaling up our test, trace and protect system; generating more detailed data from that and using that evidence to aid more precise and effective actions.
“The challenges we all face at present are without comparison in modern time.
“Every person in Northern Ireland can make a difference in the days, weeks and months ahead.”