[ad_1]
Northern Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster said tougher restrictions “are not inevitable” there, while a senior DUP MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, questioned the need for a region-wide blockade.
Donaldson’s comments followed reports that Stormont’s medical director, Dr. Michael McBride, is advocating a six-week shutdown to stop spiraling infection rates.
The DUP parliamentary leader said such a proposal was much broader than what was being considered in other parts of the UK or in the Republic of Ireland.
“A total six-week lockdown, back to where we were last March, I think would take us way ahead of anywhere else,” Donaldson told BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show.
“I would need to be convinced that such measures at this time are appropriate for all of Northern Ireland.
“I would like to know why we are abandoning the policy of focusing on the areas where infection rates are highest.”
Yesterday 1,066 new cases of coronavirus were registered in Northern Ireland.
Donaldson said that Dr. McBride needed to produce data to justify imposing a six-week lockdown.
“What we are asking the medical director is why we need a total lockdown in those areas where the infection rate is much lower to combat the spread of infection in places like Derry and Strabane.” he said. “I think it’s a fair question.”
Earlier, Northern Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster said it was “hugely disappointing” that a small minority of people thought they were 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 spokesperson for health in Northern Ireland said the situation is “very worrying” and called for maximum possible 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.
[ad_2]