Robin Swann warns that Covid hospital admissions in NI could be higher than first wave within six weeks

Giving evidence to the Assembly’s health committee on Thursday morning, he referred to an “alarming increase” in the number of positive Covid-19 cases across Northern Ireland, with an additional 424 cases confirmed on Wednesday, the highest daily total since the current testing regime started.

“We are facing a very serious situation,” he said, repeating his assessment that Northern Ireland stands at a crossroads.

“If the current trends do not change, if attitudes to this virus do not toughen, in six weeks’ time our hospital inpatient numbers will exceed those witnessed during the first wave – and that isn’t even the worst-case scenario.”

Mr Swann said since restrictions were introduced in the Ballymena and BT43 area – which were later extended across the region as a whole – cases have dropped by around 50% while the Belfast rate has also slowed.

He said there is currently sustained transmission of Covid-19 in the community in the Derry and Strabane council area.

“We are now in a place where further difficult decisions are necessary,” he said. “I will be coming to the Executive later today with a set of proposals.”