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New restrictions will take effect on Monday aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus in parts of Northern Ireland.
Limits have been imposed on the number of people who can gather in private homes indoors and outdoors, and residents have also been asked to avoid unnecessary travel outside of affected areas.
Curbs will apply within the Belfast City Hall area and in Ballymena, Co Antrim, as well as postcodes BT43, BT28 and BT29.
In these areas, members of different households cannot meet indoors, with the exception of those in a social bubble with another household and those with caregiving responsibilities, including childcare. No more than six people, from no more than two households, are allowed to gather in private gardens. The restrictions will be in effect for a minimum of two weeks.
More clarity has been requested on the regulations, which some have criticized for being confusing.
DUP MP Ian Paisley, whose constituency includes Ballymena, told the BBC he was “completely dissatisfied” and “very disappointed” by the new rules.
“We cannot close our country because of Covid,” he said.
‘The best will in the world’
SDLP MP Claire Hanna, who represents South Belfast, said her party supported the new measures, but that it was “very important that we be clear to people because even the people who are dealing, with the best will in the world They are getting confused from participating. ” for some of the messages ”.
Updated guidance posted on the NI Direct website explains that the restrictions are “focused on reducing person-to-person contact in home settings” and everything else was covered with guidance, not regulations.
This was because, according to the website, “positive cases are increasing in Northern Ireland, particularly in these areas”, and was an attempt to stop the spread of the virus by reducing people’s contact with others.
Over the weekend, 191 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Northern Ireland, according to the Northern Department of Health. In total, 8,314 cases have been confirmed in the north since the pandemic began.
Northern Ireland figures on coronavirus-related deaths are not updated on weekends. According to the department’s latest figures, released on Friday, 568 people have died of the virus in the North so far.
Second peak
Meanwhile, four in five doctors in Northern Ireland believe a second Covid-19 spike is likely or highly likely to occur in the next six months, according to a survey released Monday by the British Medical Association (BMA).
Dr Tom Black, Chairman of the BMA Northern Ireland Council, said members were “rightly concerned that we have not been able to control this disease.
“From this survey, we can see that clinicians believe we need two things to prevent a second worst Covid-19 spike: a fit-for-purpose track and trace system; and a consistent, rapid and consistent approach to controlling local outbreaks, ”he said.
“Last week, the Executive made the right moves in that direction with localized closures and, along with that, we need clear messages for the general public so that they understand what they are being asked to do and why.”
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