Coronavirus: 80,000 at-risk NI people could be able to go out from next week

At-risk people urged to shield during the coronavirus emergency could be able to go outside again from next week, Stormont’s leaders have announced.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill at today’s Stormont briefingDeputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill at today’s Stormont briefing
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill at today’s Stormont briefing

The advice to the 80,000 shielding will change from next Monday if the transmission rate of the virus remains under control when executive ministers review the data on Thursday.

If the R rate – the number of people an infected person infects – remains below one this week, ministers will give the go-ahead for those shielding to go outside with people from their own household, or one person from another household if social distancing is observed.

The R number is currently estimated at around 0.9.

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The death of one more patient who had tested positive for coronavirus was announced today, taking the death toll recorded by the Department of Health to 524.

First Minister Arlene Foster said the changing to shielding advice would be a “reasonable and proportionate first step”.

“Throughout June, we will continue to monitor the progress of the virus and, if the rate of transmission continues on a downward trend, and of course we all hope that it does, then in consultation with our scientific and medical advisors we will consider further relaxations for those who are shielding,” she said.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill stressed that the safest place for those shielding was still at home.

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“It is crucially important that you are very strict about maintaining social distancing,” she said.

She added: “You have come this far so make sure you protect yourselves as best you can until we are out the other side of this.”

A number of other relaxations are also due to come into effect next Monday.

These include the opening of more retail outlets and the go-ahead for small outdoor weddings.

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Mrs Foster said the Executive would have to make some difficult decisions if the R rate was above one when ministers next convene.

“We very much hope that R is not above one on Thursday because that will present us with some difficulties around some of the things that we’ve been making indicative announcements about,” she said.

The first minister also issued a blunt message to those flouting lockdown rules over the weekend.

She said scenes like the large gatherings at Ballyholme beach in Co Down on Friday night, which saw one attending police officer being attacked, were not acceptable.

“We have seen over the weekend new evidence of complacency,” she said.

“And indeed in the worst cases there have been flagrant disregard for public safety.”