Boris Johnson promises extra resources for NI battle with coronavirus

By Niall Deeney
Published 2nd Oct 2020, 17:33 BST
PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 13/1/2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses media during a visit to Northern Ireland earlier this year. Photo by Laura Davison/Pacemaker PressPACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 13/1/2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses media during a visit to Northern Ireland earlier this year. Photo by Laura Davison/Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 13/1/2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses media during a visit to Northern Ireland earlier this year. Photo by Laura Davison/Pacemaker Press
Boris Johnson has promised extra resources for Northern Ireland to fight the second wave of coronavirus.

His comments came after Northern Ireland’s chief scientific advisor, Professor Ian Young, warned that more than one short-term lockdown — dubbed a “circuit breaker” might need to be imposed here during the winter.

The Prime Minister’s comments came after 934 cases were confirmed in Northern Ireland earlier today — more than double the previous record number of cases.

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Speaking to BBC News NI, Mr Johnson said the UK government would “absolutely” provide resources to help curb the spread of the virus.

First Minister Arlene Foster, speaking during a press conference at Stormont yesterday, said a return to lockdown would only be considered if support was forthcoming from Westminster.

Asked by the BBC if he would provide the resources, Mr Johnson said “yes absolutely” but stressed that he would first want to see the impact of the restrictions which have already been introduced.

“I think we need to discuss together what exactly needs to be to be done, I don’t want to go back into a kind of a national lockdown of the kind that we saw in March and April where everybody has to stay at home,” he told the broadcaster.

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“I think we need to see the effect of the measures we’ve taken start to feed through a bit.”

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Related topics:Boris JohnsonNorthern IrelandArlene FosterPrime Minister