FIRST Minister Arlene Foster spoke yesterday of "green shoots of hope" as she described Northern Ireland's battle against coronavirus but cautioned there was still more work to be done.
The DUP leader said there was a "steadying" of the numbers diagnosed with Covid-19, and the reproductive rate of the virus had dropped below '1' for the first time since the summer in 10 out of 11 council areas.
"Whilst this is good news, we have still more work to do," she told a media briefing at Stormont yesterday.
Mrs Foster said there is evidence of the tighter restrictions being observed, with public transport usage down by 49 per cent, recreation and retail down by 33 per cent, workplaces by 41per cent and park visitors by 26 per cent.
The first minister also confirmed that schools will re-open as planned on Monday following an extended mid-term break.
Face coverings will be mandatory for all post-primary school children on transport.
"We are seeing positive signs that our efforts are having an effect on the virus, we have two more weeks to go on these current restrictions so we have a lot to gain and I'm asking people not to slip back but to stay safe and save lives," Ms Foster added.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill urged the public to stick with the restrictions to help reduce the spread of the virus.
"Infection rates a fortnight ago had reached crisis levels and were multiplying by the day, decisive action was needed to protect people, save lives and reduce pressure on our health service," she said.
"We are starting to see evidence that infection rates are starting to level off and we hope to see cases fall even further in the coming days and week.
"We want to thank each and every one of you for your efforts... but this is not a time to drop our guard, we need to do more. We need to keep at this and achieve the reduction that is needed in the R rate."
Mrs Foster also reassured the public that there is adequate supplies of oxygen across the hospital estate, after concerns raised by a doctor in Altnagelvin that they are currently using three times the normal amount.
The first minister said the Executive had received assurances from Health Minister Robin Swann around the supply of oxygen.
"The health minister has moved to challenge that and said that there isn't an issue with oxygen in Northern Ireland, and he was very quick to tell us that at the Executive," she said.
