Coronavirus: Fears Northern Ireland stroke victims are avoiding hospital during crisis

Arlene Foster said whilst people must continue to heed the government advice to stay in their homes as much as possible, it is “vitally important people present at hospital if they are unwell”.

She and Michelle O’Neill were speaking at the daily press conference at Stormont, during which there were further signs of disunity between them.

They sounded quite different notes on the issue of reopening graveyards, with Mrs Foster voicing support and Ms O’Neill giving a contrary view.

The press conference came against the backdrop of nine more deaths of people with Covid-19 in the Province.

That is down from 13 the day before said the Department of Health – but up from just a single death recorded on Sunday.

The department temporarily withdrew its online tally of coronavirus cases, saying there were inaccuracies in some of the numbers.

It is believed the number of deaths stands at 216, after adding the nine new confirmed fatalities.

One of the questions the first and deputy first ministers were asked was whether the lockdown could cause more deaths than Covid-19 itself, because people with routine ailments do not wish to appear a burden on the health service.

Mrs Foster said she had spoken to a stroke specialist in the South-West Acute Hospital who is “very concerned that people are not presenting with stroke symptoms”.

She said: “If you feel unwell you definitely should attend hospital or GP, and indeed we recognise there are non-Covid healthcare issues we’ll need to discuss with the health minister. It’s an ongoing issue, and one I am concerned about.”

In contrast to the division shown at other times during the press conference, Ms O’Neill echoed this, adding that: “No-one should sit at home if they have heart problems or they have stroke symptoms, if their child is unwell. They need to go and seek medical attention.”

Speaking of the necessity of the lockdown, Mrs Foster said: “We are not out of the woods, nor would we seek to make a dash for the exit.

“To do so would be foolish and to risk a second wave ...

“While it is sensible for the public and private sector to be considering how we reboot, we must not lose sight of our primary focus – to flatten the curve of this epidemic and to follow the public health advice.”

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