Coronavirus: We will not see full normality until there is a vaccine says Swann as just under 100 die in the last week

The UUP health minister made the remarks at the regular Executive press conference tonight, stressing that any hope of ending the lockdown soon is misplaced.

A day earlier DUP Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots had indicated he would like to see a “graduated” kind of easing of the guidance, citing ideas such as allowing churches to open again, so long as social distancing is observed.

Mr Swann told reporters tonight that people should not believe “the restrictions are going to be significantly eased any time soon – because they are not”.

He declared: “The widespread social distancing measures in place are still vitally needed to save lives.

“Covid-19 is still very much with us. There will be no ‘big bang moment’ when all these restrictions go away.

“The consequences of doing that would be catastrophic.

“Social distancing will be part of our lives in some form for months to come – maybe even years. So until we have a widely available vaccine, there will be no full return to what only a few months ago was normality.

“So please keep digging in and do the right thing.”

This was similar to the pronouncement from Michelle O’Neill on Friday, that social distancing “is going to be a feature of our lives for perhaps up to a couple of years, if not beyond”.

Mr Swann also said that he would consider amending the regulations which came into force in Northern Ireland on March 28, which do not legally require social distancing of two metres.

He went on to acknowledge that he faces the task of simply choosing the “least worst option” for Northern Ireland, adding: “Sticking with an indefinite lockdown also brings serious costs for society and individuals, and we have to acknowledge that ...

“There are no risk-free or pain free options.”

He also stressed that as a society the Province needs to take a fresh look at its NHS, saying that it has been subject to a “financial squeeze” for a decade, and “we really need to look after it better”.

“We can’t keep running a health and social care system on empty in future, barely getting by,” he said.

Asked about Mr Poots’ comments the previous day, Mr Swann responded: “Those conversations will be had with Executive colleagues, supported by the medical and scientific advice that comes from the chief medical officer and the chief scientific advisor.”

DEATH TOLL SO FAR:

The Executive has also announced another nine people have been added to the list of fatalities linked to the coronavirus since yesterday.

That takes the total to 347 in Northern Ireland since the start of the outbreak.

Looking back over the past week the daily figures have been as follows:

Thursday April 23: 13

Friday April 24: 15

Saturday April 25: 16

Sunday April 26: 5 (there is sometimes a dip in reporting on Sundays)

Monday April 27: 10

Tuesday April 28: 20

Wednesday April 29: 9

Thursday April 30: 9

The tally of the last seven days comes to 97.

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