NI public advised to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces

At the daily coronavirus brieifing today, Stormont first minister Arlene Foster said the Executive had decided not to make any alterations to the social distancing regulations.

“We still believe that they are needed and are proportionate to deal with the threat of the spread of the virus.”

The reproductive rate of the virus stands at 0.8 but the first minister said that was still too high.

Next week the Stormont Executive will consider “minor” adjustments to the restrictions.

Ministers had calls with Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Prime Minister Boris Johnson today, and will take part in a Cobra meeting on Sunday.

A further four Covid-19 related deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland by the Department of Health.

Mrs Foster said use of face covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing was not possible had been considered.

She said specialist scientific advice from Sage had concluded “on balance” to recommend use of the coverings in those circumstances.

Mrs Foster said each devolved region of the UK had its own coronavirus regulations and reviewed them regularly.

She said: “I don’t think the Prime Minister was moving dramatically away from that stay at home message, that is certainly what I got from him on our call today.

“Some of the London press have maybe exaggerated what is coming on Sunday.

“I get the sense that they know that there is a need to continue to suppress the virus right across the UK and I think that is what the Prime Minister was saying.”

Stormont deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill said Northern Ireland had its own Public Health Agency and medical advice on preventing the spread of coronavirus.

“We can follow our own health messaging. There can be no room for confusion.”

Increased traffic on the roads has caused some concern about people’s continued adherence to social distancing.

Mrs O’Neill added: “You can see fraying around the edges.

“You don’t want to compound that even further by having confused public health messaging.”