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Northern Ireland will be allowed to take a different approach to the easing of restrictions due to be announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson later this evening.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Britain’s Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed that the the public health message will move from “Stay at home” to “Stay alert” but he said that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can choose to take a different approach if they wish.
Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster said there were regional differences in coronavirus transmission “so you may see slight differences across the UK” when restrictions are eased.
Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday, she said: “I think the PM has to recognize there are regional differences so you may see slight differences across the UK.”
Asked if it was a good idea that the lockdown could be re-applied to different regions if required, she said: “It is important that we do what is right in our region of the United Kingdom moving forward.
“That is why we are coming forward with our roadmap next week. It will set out how we can take graduated steps back to what will be a different normality.”
Ms Foster said any return to normality will still feature social distancing. “It is important that we give hope to people but it is also important that we protect people.”
Asked about Brexit, she said it was important to get clarity on the Ireland / Northern Ireland protocol. “We should not be distracted by talk of lengthening the transition or anything like that.”
Meanwhile a leading public health expert has criticized the UK and Irish authorities for failing to introduce strict border controls on public health grounds.
Dr Gabriel Scally, honorary professor of public health at the university of Bristol and a native of Belfast, described the current situation as “ridiculous”.
Speaking on BBC’s Five Live, he said more than 90% of the world’s population live in countries which have very strict border controls in place on public health grounds.
“Britain and Ireland are almost in a tiny minority with a lot of very under-traveled countries in not having anything in place at all and I think that is ridiculous,” he said.
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Dr Scally said he has reservations about the new border controls the British government is expected to introduce. I have raised doubts about how the new quarantine measures might operate between the UK and Ireland.
Additional reporting: Tommie Gorman
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