Coronavirus: Healthy pensioners ‘may be fine’ with COVID-19 Belfast City Council says as it closes Zoo and playing fields

People who are aged seventy or over who are in quite good health “may well be fine” if they contract Coronavirus, health chiefs have briefed Belfast City Council.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 13th Mar 2020, 21:05 BST
Updated 13th Mar 2020, 21:28 BST
An Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern IrelandAn Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland
An Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland

Director of Neighbourhood Services, Nigel Grimshaw, said this had been the view of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) given to him in a briefing today.

The CMO told him there are 29 confirmed cases in NI so far of whom 18 were male, 11 were female and 24 were under 60 years of age. The reason most of those infected were under 60, he said, was because older people tend not to travel as much, and the confirmed cases so far had been foreign travel related, but that as time goes on older people will also become infected.

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The “most vulnerable” he said, will be people who are over 70 with “underlying health conditions”, however he added that people who are over 70 and in “quite good health may well be fine” in just the same way as healthy younger people.

Councillors voted to close public tours of City Hall while Belfast Zoo, playing pitches, changing rooms and pavilions, Belfast Castle, Malone House, the Tropical Ravine and Palm House will all be closed. Community centres and parks will remain open, as will leisure centres though subject to review. St George’s Market and Smithfield are to remain open for now.

Councillors agreed to support the Public Health Agency and Department of Communities in supporting those most at risk and to provide childcare where necessary. They also called on the Department of Finance to create a package to support small businesses and social enterprises.

Special plans were agreed to keep core services running in the event of emergency conditions. Special plans are in place to keep Roselawn Crematorium open in the event of a high death rate.

Related topics:PeopleBelfast City CouncilCouncillors