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Northern Ireland could be heading for a second lockdown, the medical director warned.
Dr. Michael McBride said there are likely to be more restrictions in the coming weeks if the number of coronavirus continues to rise.
And he didn’t rule out the possibility of a circuit breaker, which is essentially a lockout for a short period of time.
“I think we have to plan and prepare and analyze the options around a supposed circuit breaker,” he told the BBC.
“In order for us to get through the next few months, we may need to apply more restrictions, perhaps for a short period of a couple of weeks.
“And then if the virus starts to rise again, we may have to re-enforce some of those additional, broader restrictions.”
“It is vitally important that we stay abreast of this virus and implement all the tools in our toolbox.
“There is no magic formula here, no hammer that you can pull out to suppress this virus; it is about the combination of interventions, restrictions that reduce the mixing between people.
“There may come a point, if we see very significant transmission at the Northern Ireland level, where we have to move away from local restrictions to broader restrictions at the Northern Ireland level, and that may include a circuit breaker.”
The Executive announced yesterday local restrictions for the area of Derry City and Strabane Council after a “worrying” peak in positive cases of Coronavirus.
A series of measures will be imposed through regulations in these areas:
- Indoor gatherings should not take place where people from different households mix (with certain exemptions)
- Hospitality venues may remain open for takeout, delivery, and alfresco dining only.
- Wet bars can only serve customers outdoors.
- All museums, galleries, and cultural attractions must be closed and libraries can operate a call and collect service.
- Outdoor meetings are allowed, up to a maximum of 15 people only.
- There cannot be meetings of more than 15 people even with a risk assessment.
- Sports training and sporting events are exempt but must take place without spectators.
Dr. McBride said we now have “a very narrow window” to act.
“The consequences would be profound if we don’t,” he warned.
He also expressed concern about the increasing number of cases in the Belfast, Newry, Morne & Down and Mid Ulster Council areas.
“We are seeing a rapidly deteriorating situation in terms of the number of new cases, but also the number of admissions to the hospital and the number of admissions to our intensive care units,” he said.
“The number of new cases is doubling every nine days. The number of hospital admissions is doubling every nine days, and we could go back to number one in our hospitals with Covid-19 as soon as three weeks from now.
“We have a very, very short window of opportunity to implement broader restrictions to stop the spread of this virus.”
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