ARLENE Foster and Michelle O’Neill last night “sounded alarm bells” and urged people to obey new restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
In a joint televised address, the two political leaders said the next two to three weeks represented a critical period following soaring levels of coronavirus across Northern Ireland and increasing hospital admissions.
But they insisted that they did not want a second lockdown, with the first minister instead saying tougher measures extended across the north yesterday evening represented a “wake-up call”.
Mrs Foster called for “one big push” after six months of living with the pandemic and stressed that she wanted people to continue working while sticking to public health guidelines.
“We are resolute in dealing with this virus but we cannot do this alone and I am asking every person to join with us to limit the virus,” she said.
“I am immensely proud of Northern Ireland and when our NHS staff needed encouragement we all stepped up.
“Six months on, let’s give this one big push for the sake of our brilliant NHS staff, our elderly and our vulnerable. Let’s just be careful in our homes. Keep washing your hands regularly and often, maintain social distancing and wear face coverings where this is not possible.”
The deputy first minister spoke of her “deep concern” at the “alarming spread” of coronavirus in the community and warned that ministers expect a further rise in infection levels.
“Our priority is about protecting people. We’re asking for your continued patience – but we’re sounding the alarm bells and asking you to go back to basics,” Ms O’Neill said.
“The choices you make could be the difference between life and death for those closest to you. We stand here united. We have a window of opportunity in the next two to three weeks.”
Ms O’Neill said the executive wants to keep the economy afloat and “most importantly, keep children at school”.
The Sinn Féin northern leader also insisted that the there needed to be a “coordinated all-island approach” in tackling Covid.
“Dublin knows that and London knows that,” she said.
Their address followed a statement by British prime minister Boris Johnson.
He warned of further measures if people did not stick to the new rules.
He called on the UK to “summon the discipline and the resolve” to tackle the threat from the virus.
The new rules for the north came into force at 6pm last night. They were introduced in Belfast, Ballymena and other postcodes earlier this month and limit household visits and gatherings in gardens.
The restrictions mean no mixing of members of households can take place indoors, except for two households where members are “bubbling” with each other. Visits in private gardens are limited to six people from no more than two households.
