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Sinn Fein leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill has indicated that she will support the use of British military personnel in the battle against the Covid-19 virus.
Hospital services staff have asked Executive Health Minister Robin Swann to access help due to severe staff shortages due to the virus.
It is understood that the British Ministry of Defense can provide up to 100 combat medical technicians and Sinn Féin is expected to back the intervention.
Michelle O’Neill told RTÉ News: “Our priorities are saving lives, keeping people safe and protecting the health service. We are not ruling out any action.”
“Any effort to turn the threat posed by Covid-19 into a green and orange problem is divisive and distracting.”
Currently 629 employees are absent from Northern Ireland health trusts due to Covid-19.
Another 826 staff members were recorded as absent due to self-isolation and the two groups include 494 nurses or midwifery personnel.
Combat Medical Technicians are trained to provide basic life saving skills and medical support and are expected to be used to assist existing nursing staff.
There have been another 22 deaths of patients who tested positive for coronavirus in Northern Ireland.
Another 905 people tested positive, according to the latest figures from the health department.
There are 832 Covid-positive patients in the hospital, 67 of whom were in intensive care units.
Meanwhile, 160,396 coronavirus vaccines have been administered in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said.
Of this total, 138,436 were first doses and 21,960 were second doses.
The 7-day average infection rate per 100,000 in Northern Ireland is 313.2. The Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council remains the area with the highest rate, 576.6. Derry & Strabane, long the highest rate, again the lowest at 165.9 @rtenews @FergalBowers @GeorgeLeeRTE
– Vincent Kearney (@vincekearney) January 20, 2021
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Sinn Féin attacks the British army’s request for assistance in dealing with the coronavirus
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