[ad_1]
Image copyright
Press Association
Michelle O’Neill warns that the relaxation of the blocking measures will be “gradual and slow”
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill has warned people not to expect major changes when the closing rules are reviewed next week.
Ms. O’Neill said any change to the Covid-19 restrictions would be “gradual and slow.”
She said she hoped there could be a joint executive agreement “that we can support because science tells us we can support it.”
Ms O’Neill spoke on BBC Northern Ireland’s The View on Thursday night.
She made the comments after Environment Minister Edwin Poots suggested that churches should be able to open up if they could practice social distancing.
He said that people had received the message about the continuing need for social estrangement and that NI had “reversed the coronavirus.”
If off-license licenses could be trusted to stay open, churches could do so, too, he said.
Ms. O’Neill told The View that she believed Mr. Poots’ comments were “useless”.
Emphasizing that there would be no “quick fix,” she said, “We are going to have to get over it as best we can.”
Edwin Poots said there should be a gradual response to the lifting of the blocking restrictions
‘Life after confinement’
Previously, Health Minister Robin Swann said Northern Ireland had not yet reached the point where restrictions could be lifted.
He said the executive needed to make sure it does not send “wrong signals” about the shutdown.
Nine new Covid-related deaths were announced by the Stormont Health Department on Thursday, for a total of 347. That number is primarily related to hospital deaths and is likely to increase when deaths in the community are taken into account.
Across the UK, 26,711 have already died, an increase from 674 since Wednesday, while 43 other deaths were confirmed in the Republic of Ireland, bringing the total there to 1,232. However, both countries used different counting methods.
Speaking at Stormont’s daily press conference, Swann warned that social estrangement could exist in Northern Ireland for “months or even years.”
“There is pressure on those of us in leadership to chart a path forward, to assure people that there will be a life after the shutdown.”
“But we also have to make sure we don’t send the wrong signals, and give the impression that the restrictions will ease soon.”
In other developments on Thursday:
- Universities in Northern Ireland face losses of several million pounds due to the coronavirus pandemic
- Some schools face the loss of thousands of pounds paid for canceled trips
- A doctor, who left medicine for the clergy, is now back in the wards
- A joint UK-EU committee focused on how to implement the Northern Ireland part of the Brexit deal held its first meeting on Thursday
NI’s chief scientific adviser, Professor Ian Young, said that while the evidence suggested that the number of new Covid-19 cases was slowly decreasing, the current restrictions should remain in place.
“Looking at the data on traffic use in the past few days would suggest that adherence is declining.
“I would ask people to reflect on that and understand the importance of our commitment to the current measures.”
Swann revealed that Northern Ireland recorded its highest daily test rate for Covid-19 on Wednesday, evaluating 2,243 people.
He also described more plans for a system to track people who had been in contact with those confirmed to have the virus.
Up to 300 people will be employed in the pilot scheme, which will work closely with the Republic of Ireland authorities to counter any sudden outbreaks along the border, he added.
Executive internal struggles
The pandemic has caused a major disruption to religious services across Northern Ireland, with many churches severely restricting or terminating funeral services altogether.
Council-managed cemeteries were recently reopened to the public, following an initial disagreement between the parties in the executive.
Mr. Poots said he was not yet recommending the return of church services, but suggested that people could visit places of worship individually or in small family groups.
“There is no reason why that cannot be supervised,” the DUP MLA told the BBC Nolan Show.
Guided by science?
Among the clergy, the reaction has been mixed.
The Rev. Kyle Paisley, minister of the Free Presbyterian Church, said keeping churches closed during the pandemic was “a bitter pill to swallow.”
Media playback is not supported on your device
But he accepted that the measures were in effect for health reasons, adding that one could pray and speak of God, either online or at home.
Any decision should be guided by a scientific council, said Fr. Eddie McGee, the communications officer for the Diocese of Down and Connor.
Parishioners should not expect churches to follow a pre-pandemic schedule when they reopen, he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback program.
[ad_2]