Coronavirus: NI executive to consider more restrictions

More restrictions could be passed on Thursday after the Health Minister said Northern Ireland is at a crossroads in the face of a dramatic increase in Covid-19 cases.

Robin Swann has said that it is “inconceivable” that ministers do not act.

New restrictions are now being introduced every week and it seems certain that they will continue.

He said that he would recommend several options.

That increases the potential for more restrictions on hospitality, family interaction, and travel distances.

Another 424 cases were announced on Wednesday, 139 of which were in the Derry and Strabane council area.

A new Covid-19-related death was also reported, bringing the Health Department’s total to 579.

The Derry City and Strabane council area has one of the highest Covid-19 rates in the UK and Swann said it was inevitable that additional measures would be introduced there.

Neighboring Donegal is already under strict level three restrictions and officials are watching closely to see what lessons can be learned.

What are the level three restrictions?

Public health officials from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) have created a five-tier alert system in the Republic of Ireland.

Donegal is currently up to level three restrictions until October 16.

• Homes can be mixed with another home
• There should be no social, family or indoor gatherings.
• No matches or events, except for elite sports
• The hospitality industry, including wet pubs, is open with additional restrictions on eating indoors
• Weddings are limited to 25 people.

In the Republic of Ireland, 429 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on Wednesday and one more person died, bringing the total death toll there to 1,804.

Circuit breaker

The so-called two-week circuit breaker lockout is not being considered on Thursday, but the health minister said it could be implemented around the Halloween holiday later this month, if not earlier.

Eight business organizations have asked the executive not to introduce another blockade, claiming it would deeply damage the economy.

In a joint statement, the Chambers of Belfast, Causeway, Newry and Derry, Hospitality Ulster, Manufacturing NI, NI Retail Consortium and Retail NI urged the NI Executive to “resist re-blocking the local economy.”

They said they feared such a move would lead to business closings and job losses.

Northern Ireland currently records an average of 250 new cases per day and the number of Covid-19 patients in the hospital is doubling every 13 days, according to Professor Young.

Prime Minister Arlene Foster said the increase in NI cases was not “irreversible” and Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said the executive was prepared to respond with more restrictions if necessary.

Meanwhile, starting Thursday, pubs and restaurants must close their doors at 23:00 BST under new rules designed to help stop the spread of the virus.

It means that no food or alcohol can be served after 22:30 BST and all customers must be off the premises 30 minutes later.

The rules also apply to hotel bars, weddings and other social events, and late licenses are not allowed.

No more than six people from two households can sit at the same indoor or outdoor table in a pub or restaurant here, and live music and dancing are prohibited.

The only exception is the first dance of a couple at a wedding.

In England, a revision of the 22:00 BST closing time rule has been called for, which has led to crowds building in some cities after pub doors were closed.