Coronavirus: NI ‘just weeks away from hospital numbers as bad as first wave peak’

There are currently 67 people in hospital with the virus in Northern Ireland, of whom 10 are fighting for their lives in intensive care.

Around a fortnight ago, on September 16, there were 21 coronavirus patients in hospital and three in intensive care.

Professor Ian Young, the chief scientific advisor to the Stormont government, said that if the rise in coronavirus cases and the number of people being admitted to hospital continues then it could reach the highs recorded at the peak of the first wave in a matter of weeks.

At the height of the first wave of the pandemic in Northern Ireland, there were 320 people in hospital with the virus.

Professor Young said: “In terms of what has been happening in hospitals, over the last week we have begun to leave the lag period – that period during which we saw increased cases but not sustained increases in hospital admissions.

“We’re now at the onset of the period of increased hospital admission.

“During the last seven days, over 50 patients have been admitted to hospital with the virus.”

He added: “We would reach, if things went unchanged, the same high level of hospital inpatients as in wave one in a maximum of six weeks – possibly in as little as three weeks.”

Health Minister Robin Swann, meanwhile, issued another stark warning about the current situation with coronavirus.

“We are now looking at a severe crisis full in the face,” he said.

“I can’t put this in any more stark terms – a crisis for our health and social care service and for many victims of Covid-19.”

Mr Swann added: “I am now more concerned about what lies ahead in the next few months than I have been since becoming health minister.”

Mr Swann also delivered another stark message for those flouting restrictions.

“To the selfish minority not taking it seriously – please, please examine your conscience,” the minister said.

He added: “It’s not a rehearsal, because we will only get one chance to get this right.”