Northern Ireland

Coronavirus: Six more months - lives depend on you

Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride has warned coronavirus infection rates in NI are "significantly higher" than "anywhere else on these islands"
Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride has warned coronavirus infection rates in NI are "significantly higher" than "anywhere else on these islands" Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride has warned coronavirus infection rates in NI are "significantly higher" than "anywhere else on these islands"

NORTHERN Ireland's most senior doctor has asked for a "six month commitment" from the public to stick to covid restrictions "like their lives depend on it".

Dr Michael McBride warned the north was on track to experience 500 positive cases a day and a spike in hospital admissions by mid-October if people didn't change their habits.

Addressing a Stormont briefing yesterday, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) said "we are at a fork in the road" but that there was "light at the end of the tunnel" if the public complied with new rules on household visits as well as social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing.

A further 220 new coronavirus cases were confirmed yesterday and infection levels remain "significantly higher" than "anywhere else on these islands". No deaths were recorded, meaning the Department of Health total remains at 577.

There have been 1,078 cases recorded in the past week.

"Things are going only one way at the moment - the wrong way," Dr McBride said.

"...I ask for six months more commitment from you - as if your life depends on it - because your life and the lives of others does depend on it. We don't get a second chance."

Health minister Robin Swann also appealed for action yesterday, saying the public was "not powerless" against the virus.

He spoke about his earlier meeting with the family of a cancer patient who died at Craigavon Area Hospital after an outbreak of the virus on a haematology ward, which claimed the lives of five other patients.

John Fleming, (79) from Loughgilly in Co Armagh, was being treated for bone cancer and tested positive for the virus the day before he was due to be discharged.

Mr Fleming's family had written an open letter to Mr Swann seeking answers about the outbreak, which is now at the centre of an independent investigation.

A separate outbreak in Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry has been linked to the deaths of five patients and is also being probed.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Fleming's widow Ann said: "It's tough, extremely tough, but we don't want this to happen to anyone else."

Mr Fleming's daughter Yvonne said she believed the minister had "listened intently" to their concerns.

Mr Swann said the hospital outbreaks showed "the cruelty of this virus" and confirmed a chairperson had been appointed to head up the probe, adding that "lessons will have to be learned".

Meanwhile, Covid-related restrictions are being extended to hospital visits, with only one visit by the same family member each week.

Exceptions will made for end of life care, some paediatric and maternity services.

Hospices will allow one visitor for an hour each day "where the environment is Covid-19 secure".

Mr Swann insisted yesterday that he wanted to continue visits in care homes, with facilities encouraging a relative to become a "care partner" who will be "more than a visitor".

Mr Swann said he does not want move to localised lockdowns but that the measure could be used as a "last resort" for area showing particularly high rates - with border areas including Derry City and Strabane among those currently worst hit with a large school in Strabane forced to close it doors yesterday.

He noted that Ballymena had shown a drop in cases after recent restrictions.

In the Republic, health authorities were notified of 234 new cases of coronavirus yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 33,675.

There were two new Covid-19 related deaths which means the total number of people to have died from the virus in the south is 1,794.