Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Easy does it
FIRST Minister Arlene Foster vowed yesterday Northern Ireland must never return to lockdown after a cautious plan to ease restrictions was unveiled.
She insisted we “cannot go back” as the roadmap was published amid some concerns it lacked detailed plans to re-open everything from schools to pubs.
The country has been in deep freeze since Christmas.
Mrs Foster said: “We are asking people to work with us so we can make this the last lockdown. That is what I am focused on because we certainly cannot go back into lockdown.”
Stormont’s blueprint to reopen society focused on nine areas such as retail, hospitality and education. Each will emerge from cold storage in stages.
The document does not include any target dates and ministers promised decisions on moving between stages will be based on scientific and medical evidence, not the calendar.
The How We Will Make Our Decisions section of the Executive’s Pathway plan states
We are asking people to work with us so we can make this our last lockdown ARLENE FOSTER STORMONT YESTERDAY
that “Rate of virus transmission and incidence”, “Healthcare capacity (Covid and non-covid) and “Population immunity and vaccination” are key health factors that will dictate change.
However, there was some criticism about a lack of detail as what levels of transmission or vaccination levels will lead to progression through the roadmap.
TUV MLA Jim Allister slated the plan in the Assembly as a “cliche-ridden algorithm for dither”.
But Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill hit back, him, “I’ll tell you when kids are going back to school – when it’s safe to do so”, adding that same rules would apply to reopening businesses.
During the pandemic, ministers have co-operated, but there has been political disagreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein over education and potential breaches of the rules on social gatherings at republican funerals.
Mrs Foster said the Pathway to Recovery plan, agreed by all ministers, was a direction of travel and would help encourage optimism.
She added: “The evenings are getting brighter now, I know people are looking to get rid of
these restrictions. Certainly there is a lot of frustration out there.”
Ministers signed off on the strategy earlier yesterday.
It focuses on nine key areas – retail, hospitality, education and young people, work, culture, heritage and entertainment, sports and leisure, travel and tourism, worship and ceremonies, home and community.
The stages of restriction begin with lockdown then extend to cautious first steps, gradual easing, further easing, and preparing for the future.
Mrs O’neill said the region would turn a corner in the battle against Covid-19 this year.
She added: “This is a day very much of hope.” We must do everything we can to try to make
this the last lockdown, with the underpinning insurance policy this Executive will take the steps needed to protect the NHS.
“Taking all these factors together, we can take some tentative preparatory steps towards lifting restrictions. Great care is still needed.
“That is why the Executive has agreed a careful, cautious and hopeful approach.”
Ms O’neill said the plan built in time between phases of relaxations to provide space to examine evidence on the virus’ prevalence. Lobby group Retail NI said they were “disappointed” with the plan. Chief Executive
Glyn Roberts added: “Sadly, this falls short. It lacks detail, contains vague criteria for moving between the steps/phases and gives no certainty for retailers to plan ahead for reopening.
“Accepting that exact dates were not going to be in the document, the very least that could have been included should have been broad timelines.”
Hospitality Ulster boss Colin Neill said: “How are our pubs supposed to survive, and the industry plan? Office for National Statistics data shows two-thirds of businesses will be out of cash before the end of
May. The Executive must now bring forward an additional package of financial support to keep these businesses alive until all hospitality businesses are allowed to reopen.
“We understand there will need to be a gradual easing of restrictions and that this blueprint will be led by data. The progression to reopen should be wholly evidence based.”
Previously Health officials have raised concerns about the Kent Variant and its greater transmissability and that once lockdown measures are eased in NI, that variant could lead to a rapid deterioration in infection rates.
Two more people have died with Covid-19, the Department of Health yesterday and 149 new cases of the virus were confirmed.
Executive publishes plan to end restrictions Critics angry at lack of dates in exit strategy