Arlene Foster: We have to learn to live with and adapt to coronavirus

Writing in the News Letter, the first minister says that there are no easy paths forward amid the pandemic.

The DUP leader, who has been facing criticism from party colleagues who feel the restrictions go too far and politicians in other parties who say they do not go far enough, says that she understand both those who are concerned for the health of loved ones and others who are anxious about their jobs.

“However, there are no easy answers or solutions.”

Mrs Foster says that there are 32 people in NI in intensive care with Covid, so the risk is very real.

“But equally we cannot keep closing the country down or forcing specific sectors to close 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.”

She adds: “We cannot allow that to happen.”

Mrs Foster then says: “Every part of our society must adapt and learn to live with the virus.”

The fist minister insists that the Stormont executive “have sought to make balanced and proportionate decisions, taking into account the need to protect lives and livelihoods”.

But she adds: “With five parties in the executive there will always be different approaches. The DUP articulated opposition to another full lockdown.”

At a press briefing yesterday Health Minister Robin Swann agreed that doing nothing to try to prevent the spread of the virus would be an “abdication of responsibility,” but said he could see “no feasible alternative” to further restrictions.

Later last night, Mr Swann announced that he would be working from home after receiving a StopCOVID NI proximity app notification that he had been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, business leaders have been speaking out after seeing the evidence used by ministers to decide to close down sections of the economy.

Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton described the evidence as “flimsy” in comments on social media, while Glyn Roberts of Retail NI said it had been a “huge mistake” to shut down the hospitality and retail sectors for four weeks.

• Arlene Foster’s article is in the print edition of today’s paper, and a longer version of it will be put online later on Thursday

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