Belfast Chamber: We were told Northern Ireland would move away from cycles of lockdowns, yet here we are again

We have all seen how Covid-19 levels in Northern Ireland are still stubbornly high and how our NHS is under severe pressure and appreciate the need for action, writes SIMON HAMILTON.
By Simon Hamilton
Published 17th Dec 2020, 22:12 BST
Updated 18th Dec 2020, 09:28 BST
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However, it is also worth noting that cases remained high whilst many retailers and hospitality businesses were closed.

Knowing that closing many businesses did not impact on infection rates as hoped for previously, the Northern Ireland executive have once again decided to use more or less the same tactic, by introducing a six week lockdown from Boxing Day.

Do they expect a different result this time?

Belfast city centre earlier this month before shops reopened. Closing businesses did not cut infection rates as much as hoped, yet Stormont is going for the same tacticBelfast city centre earlier this month before shops reopened. Closing businesses did not cut infection rates as much as hoped, yet Stormont is going for the same tactic
Belfast city centre earlier this month before shops reopened. Closing businesses did not cut infection rates as much as hoped, yet Stormont is going for the same tactic
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When the NI executive introduced its first so-called circuit breaker back in October, the first minister stated that “we cannot keep closing the country down” and “that strategy, designed to buy time, is in reality a failure”.

The first minister also stated that “every part of our society must adapt and learn to live with the virus” and the deputy first minister said that the first circuit breaker would give time to “strategically examine how we can move away from a cycle of lockdowns”.

Earlier in October, the health minister commented that repeated lockdowns were “not feasible”.

Yet here we are again, going round and round and round in a cycle of lockdowns.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor
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That the region is now entering another, even more severe period of restrictions is, by the first minister’s definition, a massive failure and a reflection of the executive’s inability to chart a different course with businesses and jobs the collateral damage.

What actions are the executive proposing to take over the next six weeks to stave off future lockdowns on the basis that ministers have themselves admitted that continuing down this path is a failure?

And yet again, too many businesses are still waiting for financial support that they were promised when previously placed into lockdown and now those businesses and others need urgent support to survive and save jobs.

Simon Hamilton, chief executive, Belfast Chamber

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Related topics:Northern IrelandSimon HamiltonNHS