Coronavirus restrictions extend to all NI

The Covid-19 restrictions will be extended to all of Northern Ireland starting at 18:00 BST on Tuesday, Stormont Executive announced.

There will be no indoor household mixing with some exceptions, and no more than six people from two households can meet in a garden.

The measure followed an urgent meeting of the Executive on Monday afternoon.

In the past seven days, more than 1,000 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

Prime Minister Arlene Foster said “this is not a return to lockdown,” but that “doing nothing is not an option.”

He added: “The restrictions are limited and we are in a better place than at the height of the pandemic.”

Ms Foster said at the briefing that Northern Ireland is now dealing with outbreaks in all counties and that if action is not taken, there is a real risk of further spread.

He said it could lead to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths.

Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said the fact that more than 1,000 cases were recorded across the island of Ireland over the weekend should act as a “wake-up call for everyone.”

“We have two to three weeks from now to suppress the substantial transmission, otherwise we risk more cases in mid-October,” he said.

“The data shows very clearly that the number of areas of concern is multiplying very rapidly.”

The Health Department recorded two other coronavirus-related deaths over the weekend.

According to the Health Department panel, there have been another 125 new positive cases since Sunday.

Thirty-three people are currently hospitalized and five are in intensive care.

‘No blocking’

The restrictions mean that two households will not be mixed indoors, except in the case of one-person household bubbles and some other exemptions, such as care and visiting responsibilities for legal or medical purposes.

No more than six people from two households can meet in private gardens.

‘Everyone must do their part’

In a post on social media, Health Minister Robin Swann said “important decisions will be made in the days and weeks to come.”

He added that “everyone should do their part by following public health advice.”

The minister’s comments come as Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that the UK is facing a “tipping point”.

“If everyone follows the rules, then we can avoid a further national lockdown,” Hancock added.

On Saturday, the largest number of people tested positive for the virus in Northern Ireland since the Department of Health released its current test model.

There were 222 positive cases and then another 176 confirmed cases on Sunday.

On Monday, with another 125 confirmed cases, 9,466 people tested positive for Covid-19.

The death toll in Northern Ireland is now 577.

Ms. Foster and Ms. O’Neill spoke with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday.

It is understood that they requested an extension of the licensing scheme and additional public finances to address the challenges Northern Ireland faces during the coronavirus pandemic, but did not receive any commitments from the prime minister.