PSNI and Garda chiefs go on border patrol

Simon Byrne Drew Harris held a meeting in Aughnacloy where they formally signed the terms of reference for the joint review of the PSNI and An Garda Síochána response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Both later conducted a joint patrol with local Officers on the Tyrone/Monaghan border.

Meanwhile Irish Business Minister Heather Humphreys has said the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is not to blame for the high number of cases of Covid-19 in Co Cavan and Co Monaghan.

Co Cavan remains the county in the Republic with the highest incidence of Covid-19, with 883.5 cases per 100,000 of population, followed by Co Dublin with an incidence of 772.3 and Co Monaghan, where the incidence is 666.3.

Ms Humphreys said: “This is a matter of concern and I have raised it at the highest level with the HSE, who I know are keeping the matter under review.

“The reason for the increase in cases was due to an incident in March at the hospital in Cavan among the workers there. A lot of the workers live in shared accommodation. That was coupled with the fact there was a fairly large outbreak in residential nursing homes. That caused some problems.

“I am absolutely satisfied there is no evidence to suggest that the virus is increased numbers there because of the border with Northern Ireland. The numbers of cases of Covid-19 have reduced somewhat since that outbreak was first reported.”

She said she is satisfied there is ongoing co-operation between the health and justice ministers in the Republic and Northern Ireland.