Lockdown restrictions ‘unlikely’ to be eased when ministers meet later today

A six-week lockdown began on 26 December to help control a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Many sectors had to close and the executive pledged to review the lockdown after four weeks.

But NI’s health service is set to face bigger pressures this weekend than at any other time during the pandemic.

Speaking yesterday Health Minister Robin Swann said he would not pre-empt the outcome of today’s meeting - but confirmed he would bring recommendations from his officials.

“This is not the time to open floodgates or take premature decisions that would lead to another spike in cases,” he said.

The lockdown saw additional measures put in place on 8 January, with people told they should only leave home for exercise, food and medical needs or if they cannot work from home.

Mr Swann said the health service is set to face bigger pressures this weekend than at any other time during the pandemic.

While it is thought the number of hospital admissions has peaked, Health Minister Robin Swann said intensive care pressures were likely to increase further in the next week.

Earlier NI’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride said it was likely the pandemic lockdown in Northern Ireland could last beyond February 6.

Dr Michael McBride said restrictions will be required for a “considerable number of months”.

“I’m not certain that we will be emerging from lockdown in February, I think that would be optimistic in the extreme, we have a long long way to go with this virus,” the chief medical officer said.

“We are in the most difficult and challenging time of the year where we know that respiratory viruses circulate more readily, I don’t think any of us can be anticipating a return to normality come February 6.

“We will require restrictions to be in place yet until such times as we have more members of the population who are extremely vulnerable vaccinated.”

Chief scientific adviser Professor Ian Young said that while the R number has “fallen significantly”, the lag between case numbers and hospital admissions indicate pressures in healthcare settings will peak in the last weeks of January.

Prof Young said the fall in case numbers shows that staying at home works, adding “it must be sustained”.

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