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Stormont ministers have been told that further coronavirus restrictions are required for two weeks before Christmas to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
Health Minister Robin Swann has warned his colleagues if no new measures are introduced by the end of November, even a total shutdown in mid-December would not be enough to prevent the health service from being inundated by Covid-19 cases. .
Proposals in a document circulated by Swann said that restrictions from November 27 appeared to be the most effective option to reduce transmission of the virus.
Top health officials believe that the planned relaxations of the next two weeks are highly likely to result in the virus’s reproduction rate rising well above one, with a subsequent increase in intensive care hospital admissions in December.
If ministers fail to take action, there will be a significant increase in Covid and non-Covid deaths as other planned activity is halted, PA understands officials must project.
Swann’s department believes that a two-week restriction period beginning Nov. 27 would offer the best prospect of avoiding the need for further intervention before January.
The minister is understood to see some merit in the police playing a role in legally enforceable localized travel restrictions to support the stay-at-home message.
Until now, the Executive has only advised against “unnecessary trips”.
If no intervention occurred at the end of November, even a total lockdown from the middle of next month is likely to be insufficient to prevent current levels of pressure on hospitals from being significantly exceeded.
The Executive met to discuss Mr. Swann’s proposals on Thursday afternoon and it was suspended for a period.
Another 487 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said.
A total of 3,401 cases have been diagnosed in the last seven days.
Another 12 deaths were reported, the department’s daily update showed.
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