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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a COBRA emergency committee meeting today “to determine final interventions” which he will then announce to Parliament.
Pubs, gyms and casinos are expected to close and all but essential travel to and from coronavirus hot spots will be banned under new measures aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus.
Johnson will detail his three-tier strategy with areas in England labeled as medium, high or very high risk, which will inform the “appropriate interventions” needed in each area.
Political leaders from Northern Ireland will also participate in the COBRA meeting.
The past seven days saw nearly 6,000 new confirmed cases in Northern Ireland, with its hospital system currently at 82% capacity.
MPs will be asked to debate and vote on the measures later this week.
Johnson will hold a press conference in Downing Street with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Medical Director Professor Chris Whitty tonight.
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A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Our primary focus has always been to protect lives and livelihoods while controlling the spread of the virus and these measures will help achieve that goal.
“We must do everything we can to protect the NHS and ensure that it can continue to provide the essential services that so many depend on.
“This is a critical juncture and it is absolutely vital that everyone follows the clear guidance that we have set out to help contain the virus.”
Issue 10 highlighted the scope of discussions with local leaders over the weekend following criticism from some authorities and mayors that not enough consultations had taken place since the Covid crisis began.
Tighter restrictions in Northern Ireland ‘are not inevitable’
Northern Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster has said it is “hugely disappointing” that a small minority of people think they are not concerned about the spread of the virus “when, of course, they are.”
In a video on Twitter, he said that there are currently 19 patients in the ICU. “We need to stop the spread of the virus, otherwise it will have a hugely detrimental effect on our health service.”
0830 update. 👇👇
Balance necessary to protect life and livelihoods. pic.twitter.com/6acS6egNEa– Arlene Foster # We will meet again (@DUPleader) October 12, 2020
He said the tougher restrictions “are not inevitable if people go back to the basics, like washing their hands and wearing a mask in the appropriate places.”
“We in the Executive will have to make big decisions this week and they are far from being simple and cannot be characterized as health versus wealth.
“On a very basic level, if you lose your job, if your business sinks and you end up in poverty, that also has health implications.”
Ms Foster said that Covid and non-Covid health should be considered before any additional restrictions, as well as social and family impacts, including “the education of our young people and their life chances.”
He said that the Executive would be weighing some very important decisions in the coming days.
Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson in Northern Ireland said the situation is very worrying and called for maximum efforts to reduce Covid-19 transmission rates.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Assembly Health Committee Chairman Colm Gildernew said it is recognized that it will be necessary to increase Covid restrictions.
Although local restrictions have been put in place, he said, it is recognized that greater action must be taken across the board.
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