Coronavirus: NI plan to facilitate blocking may not include dates

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Prime and deputy prime ministers have suggested that they do not support date setting in the phases of lifting blockade restrictions in Northern Ireland.

The executive has met to discuss how and when the Covid-19 measures should be facilitated.

On Friday, the government of the Republic of Ireland announced a timetable to lift the restrictions, starting May 18.

The NI executive is due to review its own coronavirus laws by this Saturday.

The regulations went into effect initially on March 28 and the executive has already extended them once.

Ministers have previously warned that while they want to publish a plan that sets out how to ease the blockade, any relaxation of the current restrictions will be slow and gradual.

‘Balancing act’

The Irish government has established a five-stage approach, from May 18 to August 10, to help the Republic of Ireland slowly reopen.

Speaking at the NI Executive’s daily press conference on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said using projected dates, as the Republic of Ireland has done, could pose challenges.

“I think there are difficulties in setting dates, and people work for that,” he said.

“Each action will have an impact in terms of the spread of the virus, it is a balancing act.”

On Monday, the Health Department reported six other Covid-19-related deaths.

Five of the deaths occurred in the last 24 hours, while one occurred before, but has only now been recorded.

It brings the total, mainly composed of hospital deaths, to 387.

These figures are one of the two sets published in Northern Ireland; the others are weekly statistics from the statistics agency Nisra, covering all deaths where coronavirus has been recorded on the death certificate.

By April 24, Nisra had recorded 393 Covid-19 related deaths here.

The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in NI is now 3,836.

The number of people who have died with confirmed coronavirus in all settings in the UK has increased from 288 to 28,734.

‘Work with us’

Ministers are trying to determine which areas would pose the least risk and offer the greatest benefit if the rules are relaxed, Arlene Foster said.

The prime minister added: “While many of you are eager for us to produce a plan immediately, we must focus on getting it right.”

“The challenge for this executive is how to loosen the restrictions in a way that is scientific, proportionate and does not expose society to another infection.”

“We are planning a change, but until then, we need you to work with us.”

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The executive will meet during the course of this week to discuss the plan before it is released.

Meanwhile, the UK government is due to present its proposals on Sunday, after an emergency Cobra committee meeting involving ministers from delegated administrations.

“We will be part of the Cobra call later this week, and we will have a clearer picture of what the prime minister will say when it comes to moving forward,” said Ms. Foster.

“I think it is important that we look at the whole of what is happening so that we can plan more fully.”

The prime minister had previously suggested that Northern Ireland’s closure restrictions could be lifted at a different rate than the rest of the UK.

In other developments on Monday:

• Leaders of Northern Ireland’s four major Christian churches say now is not the right time to return to collective worship
• Economy Minister Diane Dodds calls for more “national support” for higher education sector
• One of Northern Ireland’s largest home builders, Hagan Homes, resumes work at eight of its sites.
• The reduction of hot desks and alternatives to social distancing where this is not possible are among the measures being considered to allow the reopening of workplaces.

Previously, Justice Minister Naomi Long said that while there would be coordination with the Republic of Ireland, there would be differences in Stormont’s plan.

No ‘a la carte relaxation’

“I think it is likely that we are emerging on a similar trajectory, but much of the funding that supports people through this will come from London,” he told the BBC Radio Foyle’s Breakfast show.

“We have to be aware of that because we cannot ask companies here to remain closed if funds to support them are running out of London without replacement.”

Stormont ministers acknowledge that lifting any restrictions will not be without risk.

Ms Long said she would not support measures that could lead to an “à la carte” relaxation of the measures, which could lead to further spread of the virus in Northern Ireland.

Last week, DUP Agriculture and Environment Minister Edwin Poots called for churches and garden centers to reopen in a controlled manner.