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More frequent Covid-19 tests have been announced for staff working in nursing homes in Northern Ireland.
The tests are slated to increase from once every two weeks to once a week, and Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann indicated that it should be implemented starting next week.
It occurs when the number of active outbreaks of the virus in nursing homes has increased rapidly in recent months.
There were 117 active outbreaks in nursing homes according to data from NI’s Health Department today.
The equivalent figure at the beginning of September was less than 20.
The move follows the announcement of six more Covid-19-related deaths in Northern Ireland and 570 new cases of the virus.
The death toll there from the virus now stands at 730 with 40,179 confirmed cases, including 4,629 in the past seven days.
Swann described nursing homes as “staying on the front lines in the battle against the virus.”
“I am pleased today to confirm that testing is available to nursing home staff on a weekly basis. I have asked officials to make sure this takes effect across the industry as soon as possible.
“I do not underestimate the logistical challenges this will bring, but I have no doubt that it is the right thing to do.
“Expansion of testing is one of the most important weapons in our ongoing battle with Covid-19.”
Swann said nursing homes are under “considerable pressure,” similar to the rest of the health and social care system.
“The more prevalent the virus is in our community, the greater the risk of it spreading to our nursing homes.”
There are currently 413 Covid-19 patients being treated in Northern Ireland hospitals, 51 of them in intensive care.
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Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Executive has been urged not to reopen the hotel sector as planned.
Dr Tom Black, Chairman of the Board of BMA Northern Ireland, has called for the current circuit interruption restrictions to be extended. They are due to rise on November 13.
He said a return of the sector at this stage “would be appalling”, describing it as “an act of careless vandalism” and called for a closure similar to that in England.
Hospitality Ulster responded to Dr. Black’s comment, tweeting: “The government cannot solve this crisis alone, it will take partnerships with industry to find solutions to protect lives and livelihoods. Using language like ‘vandalism’, confronting lives with means life does not help anyone. “
Dr. Black said he is concerned that the health service will be overwhelmed.
“We are in the worst pandemic we will ever see, in a second wave that is much worse than the first wave, with full wards, full intensive care and a large number of outbreaks in residences,” he told the BBC.
“It would inevitably result in our health service being overwhelmed, inevitably resulting in increased pain, suffering and death for our community.
“We cannot open hospitality during a great second wave in a pandemic, end of discussion.
“We need leadership from our executive, we have had hesitations. We need clear decisions, we need firm action.”
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