Covid: Top UK scientist says NI ‘should move Christmas to February’

Dr Hugh Pennington was speaking amid data showing Northern Ireland compares very unfavourably with its southern neighbour in the fight against Covid.

Despite Northern Ireland’s population being about two-fifths that of the Republic’s, the Province currently has roughly twice as many Covid-19 patients in hospital.

As of Sunday, the Republic had 193 patients in hospital, compared with 401 in Northern Irish hospitals (figures include both general patients and those in the intensive care units).

Breaking it down to those who are in need of the most serious care, the numbers are about equal: the Republic has 31 intensive care Covid patients, with 29 in Northern Ireland.

Whilst the number of Covid patients now in hospital has come down in Northern Ireland from a peak of 545 on November 12, there are fears that this will rebound sharply over Christmas.

Other key figures over the weekend are as follows:

• In terms of deaths, on Saturday the Republic registered three deaths of Covid patients, and on Sunday one death – taking the running total to 2,124.

• In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health on Saturday said there had been six new deaths within a 24-hour period, and four new deaths announced on Sunday – taking the running total to 1,124.

• In terms of new infections, on Saturday, the Republic of Ireland recorded 248 new cases of Covid.

• And on the same day in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said there were 321 positive results.

The figures come following a weekend when Northern Irish restaurant-goers and shoppers were able to return to relative normality, with curbs on non-essential retail and eat-in venues eased on Friday.

The two-week “circuit-breaker” that Northern Ireland was undergoing up until Friday had been seen by the authorities as a way of suppressing the infection rate so the population can enjoy some family and friend get-togethers over the holuday period.

But Prof Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen and former government advisor, had a very downbeat message for Northern Ireland.

Asked what advice he would give NI leaders about dealing with the virus, he said: “Have Christmas in February.”

He told the News Letter: “Mixing together, strangers basically mixing together, is high risk. One would really have to think about very serious closure of businesses.

“It’s tough at Christmastime, but if we don’t do that, Christmas is really going to be another boost for the virus.

“Christmas has come at the wrong time. The virus is still too active, really.

“A slight degree of pessimism is in order at this moment in terms of our ability to control the virus without having these severe lockdowns.”