Northern Ireland

Covid-19 R rate drops below one but Michelle O'Neill warns 'not time to drop our guards'

Deputy First Minister Michelle OÕNeill at a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, to discuss the latest coronavirus situation. Picture by: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire 
Deputy First Minister Michelle OÕNeill at a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, to discuss the latest coronavirus situation. Picture by: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire  Deputy First Minister Michelle OÕNeill at a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, to discuss the latest coronavirus situation. Picture by: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire 

First Minister Arlene Foster has said there are "green shoots of hope" across Northern Ireland in its fight against Covid-19 as the R rate for case numbers has dropped below one..

Mrs Foster said while there remained work to do to bring the virus under control, there is evidence that restrictions are working.

"We still have more work to do," Mrs Foster told a media briefing. "We are seeing the number of those died have increased by 47.

"There is evidence of the impact of the restrictions being observed.

"Activity has decreased significantly across a range of areas. Transport usage is down by 49%, work places by 41% and park visitors by 26%.

"Supermarkets and pharmacy activity is also down."

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neilll said: "We want to thank every one of you for your efforts but this is not the time to drop our guards."

Mrs Foster also said that people are living with the reality of Covid-19.

"We know now how it is operating in our communities," she added.

She urged the public to download the Covid-19 tracking app.

Mrs Foster asked the public to enjoy Halloween safely and in line with public health guidance.

She said that schools will reopen on Monday. She warned, however, there are concerns of people "mingling" outside schools and at school gates.

She also said that a public messaging campaign will be held to address this issue.

Ms O'Neill said she cannot imagine the pain felt by the parents of Aaron Doherty, a teenager from Derry who is understood to be the youngest person to die with Covid-19.

She passed her sympathy to his family.

"Aaron's passing is a cruel reminder of the situation we are faced with," she added.

She said that with the north almost at the midway point of its four week circuit-breaker, evidence shows that the number of Covid-19 cases are levelling off.

It was confirmed this afternoon that Children aged 11 will now be required to wear face masks while travelling on transport to and from school, it has been confirmed.

The decision comes as Mrs Foster and Ms O'Neill continued to raise concerns about people congregating at school gates.

Mrs Foster said the issued needed to be addressed as some people are not social distancing nor wearing face masks while waiting outside school buildings.

Mrs Foster said that schools will reopen as planned on Monday.

Ms O'Neill made a plea to parents to be more careful and keep their distance from each other when at school gates.

Further guidance on how to deal with the issue is to be sent to schools in the next week.

Ms O'Neill added that parents and older children needed to take personal responsibility when at school.

Earlier today the Department of Health revealed that another eight people have died after contracting Covid-19

It brings the total death toll in the north to 688.

A further 822 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the past 24 hours. 

Bed occupancy in the north's hospitals now stands at 99 per cent, down from 103 per cent yesterday.

Six hospitals are operating over capacity, with the Mater in Belfast worst affected at 110 per cent.