‘Key decision point’ due next week for NI coronavirus restrictions says Arlene Foster

Currently, strict lockdown measures in place since Christmas are set to expire on March 6 but a possible extension is due to be considered on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference in Co Tyrone on Thursday evening, the First Minister said “care” is needed when it comes to easing restrictions but she insisted they won’t be “in place for a moment longer” than they are needed.

“We need to see the numbers as low as possible so that we can safely plan for gradually emerging from the lockdown,” she said.

“We all want to see an end of the restrictions but we must approach that with care so we don’t lose the gains that we have made.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Foster said described the vaccination roll-out as a “very bright spot in what has been a very dark year” as she revealed a quarter of all adults in Northern Ireland will have had at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine by the weekend, First Minister Arlene Foster has said.

The latest figures from the Stormont health department show that another nine people with coronavirus have lost their lives in Northern Ireland, bringing the total death toll to 1,966.

There were another 253 cases reported yesterday, meaning the total in the past seven days stands at 2,377 — a reduction on the 3,205 the week before.

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