Ministers in Northern Ireland warned that the public should work at home and warned pubs they may have to close for Christmas because of rising Covid infection rates.
On Tuesday, Paul Givan and Michelle O’Neill (Deputy First Minister) made a rare appearance at Stormont Castle to present a united front. Robin Swann, Health Minister, was also there. They all stressed that such a situation could be avoided by following a series of steps set out by the Executive.
They include encouraging people to cut down on social contacts, meet outdoors whenever possible and ensure that indoor meetings are well-ventilated.
The press conference followed a meeting of the five-party coalition, and a warning from Mr Swann on Monday that some hospitality outlets may be forced to close over the festive period if the current wave of cases is not suppressed.
Givan claimed that the coalition was trying to defend both lives and livelihoods.
He said, “We believe in openness and safety.”
Robin Swann, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Health, speaks in Stormont Castle during a conference. This was when he presented an update from Northern Ireland Executive regarding new Covid Measures.
Ms O’Neill (pictured right) requested that the public play their role in keeping society open
“We are not trying to shut down anything. Our hospitality should be available throughout Christmas.
“I want people to be able to safely open their doors.
“There are also financial realities that don’t exist. There is no furlough plan, and there’s not the hundreds of millions of dollars coming from London. That’s the kind of support that we could provide.
Ms O’Neill urged the public to take part in keeping society open.
She stated, “So evidently this is the moment to reset everything and really focus on where we’re at.”
“These are certainly uncertain times. Now is the time to move and get the best result.
“And we have the best chance to avoid any further directions down the line.”
Ms O’Neill said: “Our goal is to keep everyone open and secure, as well as to keep businesses running safely so that patrons are able to attend.
“That’s what I’m trying to do right now.”
Swann stated that the closing of Christmas hospitality shops was not inevitable.
According to him, increased vaccinations and adherence to health care measures may help reduce the need for restrictions.
Swann warned that some establishments could be closed during Christmas if this current surge of cases continues to go unchecked
According to the minister, the executive’s proposal was made in order to stop the rising number of Covid cases that are being reported from other European countries.
He stated that now was the time to make these decisions so we won’t need to do any more in the future. This is what the Executive had agreed to collectively.
After some people have condemned the reopening nightclubs, and the repeal of social distancing laws on October 31, it comes after others criticised them.
Even though the British Medical Association warned of the need to ease restrictions, the move was made at a moment when the risk of spreading coronavirus in communities was still high and there were growing pressures on government services.
Three weeks later, Stormont ministers still struggle with the soaring number of cases.
Givan supported Tuesday’s decision, saying that the Executive had taken the right steps.
We have kept a few key base requirements, such as risk assessments that ensure events happen in a safe and minimize the transmission risk.
“This is all about increasing compliance to the measures that remain.”
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said it was not the time to look back on past decisions.
‘There’ll be plenty of time for reflection around decisions and decision points and what informed those decisions,’ she said.
‘For now, I’m more focused on what we’re doing today. We’ve tried to work with society, with the different sectors, we’re trying to get people open and safe, we’ve tried voluntary approaches and, unfortunately, then we find ourselves in the scenario that we are in today.
“But, I believe that our energy and focus should be focused on the coming weeks and the New Year.
Executive orders Covid task force of the Executive to collaborate with agencies and sectors on problems related to patchy enforcement rules for mask-wearing.
Stormont’s junior Ministers will head the task force. It will examine whether it is possible to set up a “scores-on-the door” system that rates businesses on compliance with regulations and mitigations.
Following a time of disagreements within ministers regarding key Covid policy issues, the Tuesday announcement came as a result.
DUP members voted against Swann’s Covid scheme to certification the hospitality sector. UUP Health minister Naomi Long was also at odds with Naomi Long over how to deal with low compliance rates for face mask wearing.
Ms O’Neill, Mr Swann, and Mr Givan all admitted that they had differences in opinion, but said they were determined to share a message collectively on the recent decisions.
Three ministers spoke out about the urgent need to reform the pressured regional health service. They stressed the importance for a coordinated approach by the Executive in order to prioritize the system moving forward.
Although Mr Givan stated that Christmas party planning should be continued, he stressed the importance of risk assessment for organizers.
He said, “Obviously I want it to continue as normal and that people can make plans and arranges but in a safe manner.”
According to The First Minister, receiving the vaccine and subsequent boosters is the single greatest contribution people can make.
Next week, the Covid system of certification for hospitality business is going to be implemented.
Non-compliance penalties will now be enforceable in two weeks, December 13th.
The compulsory certification system requires that people who want to enter designated locations must present proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative result from a lateral flow test.
Along with 1,476 other positive cases, the deaths of four additional patients in Northern Ireland who were previously positive for Covid-19 were announced Tuesday.
Tuesday morning saw 390 Covid positive patients admitted to hospital and 33 placed in intensive care.