LIVE Coronavirus NI: Health Minister says only 6 people can now meet indoors | R value in NI now 1.3 | Meat plant closes due to Covid cluster | 51 new cases of COVID-19 detected say Department of Health

Dr Michael McBride said the reopening of schools was a priority and real harm was being caused to young people’s health.

He said the pandemic was not over but it would be one day and people could get through it.

He said there was a significant increase in the number of cases among younger people, adding that partly explained why a similar increase in hospitalisations had not yet been seen.

The medic said some of the evidence about people’s behaviour was anecdotal.

“We are seeing increased social mixing, close contact occurring in domestic settings.

“What we now need to do is act on that evidence and act on it in a proportionate way

Mr Swann added: “Unless we take action now I fear it would soon have been too late to arrest further extensive spread of the virus.”

Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride backed the Stormont Executive’s decisions.

“I believe they send a signal to the community as a whole.

“They reflect all our concerns at the growing numbers of Covid-19 cases.”

The R number in Northern Ireland is 1.3.

The number meeting indoors at households is to be reduced to six from no more than two households.

The limit on numbers at outdoor gatherings will fall from 30 to 15.

Mr Swann said there would be focused PSNI enforcement in hotspot areas.

The meeting came after the DoH revealed that another 51 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Northern Ireland.

Minister Swann said that he was concerned that in spite of the alarming figures, that people were becoming “increasingly flippant”,

He said that many younger people had contracted the virus, “but that is no excuse to lighten up”.

“Hospital admissions will inevitably and sadly rise. For those who believe they are immune they need to know better. This virus can and has taken lives”

Minister Swann said recently his department recently has been dealing “with a significant outbreak in a meat processing plant”.

He said 35 cases were detected in staff and further cases of contact. He said all staff were being tested and many were self-isolating.

Dr McBride added that “the return of schools could see pressure on the R number”.

“If your child has symptoms then keep them at home,” he added. “Get them tested. The capacity is up to 900 tests a day. Schools are not unsafe places.”

The news came in the latest Department of Health dashboard - which also revealed that now 6,556 people have tested positive in Northern Ireland.

In the last seven days 298 people have tested positive in Northern Ireland.

There are no further deaths leaving the toll at 559.

Most of the 51 confirmed coronavirus cases recorded in the past 24 hours by the Department of Health have been aged between 20-39.

Twenty-five of the 51 cases recorded were in that age range.

The fewest cases recorded in the department’s latest update were between the ages 0 -19 and 60-79.

The latest dashboard reveals that the majority of the 51 cases of coronavirus confirmed within the last 24 hours were recorded in the Mid and East Antrim and Belfast council areas - both with 12.

The remainder of cases confirmed in the Department of Health’s were located in:

Antrim and Newtownabbey - 7

Lisburn and Castlereagh - 5

Newry Mourne and Down - 5

Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon - 4

Causeway Coast and Glens - 3

Derry and Strabane - 2

Mid-Ulster - 1

The biggest increase in cases over a seven-day-period has occurred in Mid and East Antrim with 79 new cases.

The dashboard also reveals there are active Covid-19 outbreaks in eight Northern Ireland care homes.

That is an increase of seven from yesterday.

An active outbreak is declared in a care home when a resident or staff member has a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19.

The news comes as it emerges a meat processing plant near Ballymena is to close temporarily due to a Covid cluster.

Cranswick in Cullybackey, which processes pigs, will shut at the weekend, the BBC have reported.

A cluster is defined as 2 or more cases. No confirmation of the exact number at Cranswick.

Meanwhile it also emerged that Thompsons Garage was closing in Belfast after a staff member tested positive.

The statement posted on Facebook says: “Customer Announcement :: Covid-19 Statement

Unfortunately Thompsons will be closed tonight as one of our staff members has tested positive for Covid 19. We will be in touch with anyone who has booked tables for tonight and issue refunds immediately.

All our remaining staff members have been tested and are now awaiting their results. These results should be in today or tomorrow at the latest but sadly we cannot open until we are certain that everyone employed at Thompsons is in the clear.

In the interim the entire venue is undergoing a deep clean, fumigation and decontamination in preparation for re-opening this weekend.. Our team will be in contact with everyone who has made bookings for tonight and this weekend.

We’ll keep you posted on any developments! #staysafe”.

Earlier today it emerged that a popular Co Londonderry bar - Dormans in Magherafelt - was closing temporarily after a number of customers tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement on their Facebook page Dormans Bar said: “Since reopening our premises after lockdown we introduced in line with government guidelines stringent safety measures to ensure the protection of both our staff and customers.

“We are totally committed to these measures which are constantly under review and improvement.

“We however, despite the stringent safety measures we have in place, regret to inform you that three customers who visited our premises over the weekend of 15-16 August, have tested positive for Covid 19.

“This information was supplied to us through NI Public Health Department’s Track and Trace System.

“According to government guidelines we can reopen after a deep clean as it’s an isolated case but to ensure the protection of the health, welfare and safety of our staff and customers we have decided to close the premises this weekend and until all our staff have been tested, their results checked and the premises have undergone a thorough professional deep clean.

“We are absolutely devastated that this has happened but unfortunately it is a situation that is unavoidable and which a lot of businesses will face in the coming months.

“Thank you to all our customers for your support and our sincerest apologies for any inconveniences caused by our temporary closure.

“Dormans Bar “

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that two members of staff at the Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort near Ballymena have tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement they said: “Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort confirmed today that it has increased safety measures for guests and team members amid concerns over an increase of Covid-19 cases in a number of areas across Northern Ireland, including Mid & East Antrim.

It has also confirmed that following its own robust testing procedures, two asymptomatic team members who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday have been self-isolating at home, in line with company policy. The employees affected were back-of-house and had no contact with guests. The Resort’s senior team remains in regular communication with those impacted to provide support and a further test will be carried out with both team members prior to a return to work.

Galgorm Collection Managing Director, Colin Johnston, said:

“We share the concerns around the recent increase in the number of Covid-19 cases and, like many employers in the area, we have been monitoring this extremely closely. In response, we have already put additional measures in place.

Last week, we moved to the next phase of our agreed, comprehensive Hygiene Commitment plan which includes increased random testing of team members, who continue to operate within team bubbles.

In addition, we are also the first company in Northern Ireland to introduce a Mistpal Cleansing Tunnel for team members and guests entering the Resort for further safety reassurance. This is in addition to already established measures including a nightly, full deep-clean of all areas with hospital-grade sanitiser protectant and decontamination equipment, thermal temperature monitoring, provision of hand sanitisers in all areas and adherence to recommended social distancing guidelines.

The health and safety of our team and guests remains paramount and we are grateful for their continued support and also to those guests who have rescheduled their stay as a result of the robust pre-entry testing measures we have in place.”

Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort has already carried out tests with almost 300 team members and will continue to conduct random testing and adopt the same stringent protocols already in place in the event that any further positive cases are identified.

Since reopening Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort has been focused on safety as a priority and was among the first hotels in the UK to receive the AA COVID Confident Mark for its industry leading health and safety standards. It continues to work with local, regional and UK government bodies to uphold its stringent hygiene standards”.

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