Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ROBIN HINTS RELAXATIONS ..& PUBLIC AT TIPPING POINT SAY END OF LOCKDOWN IN SIGHT »
» Swann says people and business should plan for future
THE scales are “tipping in favour of relaxations” of lockdown restrictions, Health Minister Robin Swann said last night. He added the time was right to give indicative dates “to let people and businesses look ahead with greater optimism”. It comes as the Executive is set to meet today to review restrictions. But Mr Swann said we “can not abandon all restrictions in one go”. He added the plan would prioritise the most difficult and challenging restrictions on a phased basis. Mr Swann said measures would include getting back to the hairdressers and barbers and more businesses opening earlier than had been anticipated. He added maintaining the restrictions since Boxing Day until Easter has required “remarkable commitment” and “incredible sacrifices” but that now we can “step cautiously into a new environment”.
Mr Swann said: “While we must never be complacent, undoubtedly significant progress has been made.
“The scales are tipping in favour of relaxations of some of our restrictions and being able to accelerate that process.
“This is thanks in no small measure to how you have all struck to the restrictions and the progress of our vaccination programme.
“The restrictions have taken a very serious toll on all our mental and physical health, on individuals, on families and on communities.
“Covid fatigue risks mutating into Covid despair. Frustration is growing and if unchecked it may impact on adherence with health advice.
“I don’t want to see that, those working in our health service don’t want to see that.
“I believe that the time is now right for the Executive to proceed with further easing of restrictions including some indicative dates to let people and businesses look ahead with greater optimism.
“I support a strategic and holistic approach rather than a piecemeal process. The guiding principle has to be personal and societal well being.
“Prioritising the most difficult and challenging restrictions on a phased basis.
“That includes giving people more opportunities to meet up with family and friends outdoors in as safe a way as possible.”
The minister added should include getting back to the hairdressers and barbers and more businesses opening and considering even more people getting back to their caravans earlier than he previously thought. He said: “My department has now fed into the central process and whilst I will not preempt any decisions ahead of tomorrow’s Executive, I do hope the agreed review will show clear signs of positivity and progress after it. Minister Swann also added some notes of caution and warned easing any lockdown comes with risks. He said people mixing more will result in the virus spreading more but added we can not stay in lockdown forever.
The minister added: “That would be catastrophic for our society, not least in terms of our physical and mental well being.”
He said we must remain careful and vigilant and do our best to strike the correct balance which remains “extremely difficult”. Mr Swann said vaccines were our best defence and shield against Covid but do not provide 100% protection and that was why
Time is now right to proceed with further easing ROBIN SWANN YESTERDAY
Executive to make new announcement on lifting restrictions
he had to strike those notes of caution “amid the optimism and hope”.
He said: “We can not abandon all restrictions in one go, we can not lose the run of ourselves, we can not see the good work undone.
“Effective adherence and enforcement measures will be absolutely essential if we are to keep the virus under control and diminish the potential for another significant surge.
“We must also not forget the lifesaving lessons we have all learned this past year – social distancing, wearing a mask, washing our hands, letting fresh air in and doing more outdoors.
“So it is safer to meet up in the great outdoors, we must make fresh air our friend and let our fresh air blow away those Covid particles.”
The Deputy First Minister said ministers are set to agree a timetable for reopening society in that will cover several months.
The Executive has faced criticism for not incorporating indicative dates into its blueprint for exiting lockdown.
Michelle O’neill told her Assembly scrutiny committee that progress in suppressing the virus meant ministers were now in a position where they could provide projected timelines.
Ministers meet today for a formal review of the coronavirus regulations.
First Minister Arlene Foster has already expressed hope that opening dates for close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, and non-essential retail will be announced after the meeting
The hospitality sector is also hopeful that it might get some good news today, particularly in respect of outdoor trading.
Ms O’neill suggested relaxation plans emerging from the meeting would cover several months.
She told the Executive Office committee: “Myself and Arlene have been speaking with officials for some time saying we wanted to see dates put to this [the lockdown exit plan].
“So I’m glad that now, I’m hopeful actually that tomorrow the Executive will be able to sign off on dates on what it look likes for the next number of months.”
Ms O’neill said given recent events in the region, an apparent reference to bouts of street disorder that have flared this month, it was important to give people “something to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead”.
But she added: “We need to be careful because even though we’re able to open things up, we don’t want to go into reverse, so let’s keep going forward.
“We think we’ll have a very hopeful and positive announcement to make tomorrow.”
Northern Ireland took some further gradual steps out of lockdown on Monday.
The remainder of post-primary students, years eight to 11, returned to schools while a limited number of outdoor-focused retail outlets, such as garden centres and car dealerships, reopened. Earlier this week, the “stayat-home” messaging was also replaced with “stay local” advice.
At the weekend, Northern Ireland reached the milestone of one million coronavirus vaccine jabs having been administered.
Other relaxations on Monday saw the number of people who can meet outdoors in a garden, including children, increase from six to 10.
Click-and-collect services for nonessential retail also resumed.
Outdoor sports training is now allowed for recognised clubs, in groups of up to 15, provided all indoor facilities except toilets remain closed.
The number of people allowed to attend marriage and civil partnership ceremonies has also increased, at a level informed by a risk assessment for the venue.
The death one further patient who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 was announced in Northern Ireland yesterday, along with another 97 cases of the virus.
The latest figures also confirmed there were 70 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom eight were in ICU.
I hope the Executive will be able to sign off on dates MICHELLE O’NEILL YESTERDAY