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POLITICIANS IN NORTHERN Ireland will meet tomorrow to discuss plans for an easing of Covid-19 restrictions, after UK prime minister Boris Johnson set out his own roadmap earlier this evening.
There is significant discord between the approach of the UK government and the devolved governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – with each region rejecting Johnson’s new “stay alert” slogan in favour of the “Stay at home, save lives” message.
Earlier, Johnson announced a “sketch” of what the coming weeks and months might look like in the UK.
Schools and shops could begin a phased reopening in June, while under the plan at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places could reopen as early as July.
More immediately, people in the UK will also have more freedom when it comes to exercise from Wednesday, while Johnson also said that from this week anyone who cannot work from home “should be actively encouraged to go to work” but avoid using public transport if possible.
It remains to be seen what exact approach the North will take.
In a statement today, First Minister Arlene Foster said that Northern Ireland is “not out of the woods yet”.
”It is important that we continue to follow this advice,” she said.
“As the Executive begins to finalise our plans for recovery, we need to strike the balance between continuing to protect lives and the health service and give people hope for the future,” Foster said.
“The changes that we will introduce will be gradual, proportionate and based on scientific and medical advice and will be taken at the right time and in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland.”
Michelle O’Neill / TwitterSociety has changed beyond all recognition over the past six weeks as people have followed the advice to stay at home and save lives. That remains the message.
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) May 10, 2020
Echoing this, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the decisions the Executive will take in the days and weeks ahead “are some of the biggest we will ever have to make”.
She said: “We know that six weeks into the restrictions, people need some light at the end of the tunnel. We also know that recovery will only happen one step at a time, to do otherwise risks undermining the sacrifices people have already made and increases the risk of a second spike in the future.”
Earlier today, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood told Johnson that the new slogan is “a nonsense”.
He tweeted: “Just spoke to Boris Johnson about the address he will make tonight. I made it clear that his new ‘Stay Alert’ message is a nonsense. I also stressed the need for a cautious plan to move beyond full lockdown. That plan has to include a proper all Ireland testing and tracing system.”
Northern Ireland’s reproductive rate (R0) – the number of people an infected person infects – is currently at 0.8.
Today, another five Covid-19 deaths were reported in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said, taking total fatalities to 435.
A further 41 positive cases were also diagnosed, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 4,119.
With reporting from Press Association
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This is Sinn Féin’s big moment in the sun. There is no point us having restrictions down south if our friends up north don’t follow suit. Let’s see if they can make independent decisions that go against Westminster.
@Mairtin Antaine O Conaill: Unfortunately they’re dealing with the DUP who, as history has shown us, are prepared to accept crumbs from Westminster. Will be interesting to see if Arlene has grown a pair (no pun intended) and stands up for all in the north or if she’s happy to be thrown under the bus again by the Tories.
Germany has eased restrictions and rates are increasing again, as they are in S Korea. We have to be in it for the long haul and be very careful at easing restrictions and allowing the virus to spread again, after gaining much ground in the fight against this deadly virus.
@GO GREEN: until there is a vaccine this will happen. Live your life spread the virus can only be minimized cannot be stopped without a vaccine
@john s: That is price too high to pay – we are talking many thousands of people loosing their lives. Some progress here – Antibodies from Winter, a 4-year-old llama with great eyelashes, have neutralized coronavirus https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/science/llama-coronavirus-antibodies.html
@john s: I take it you’re not over 60 or have an underling medical condition yourself John?
@GO GREEN: the economic price will be far greater price in the long run the average age of people dying from covid 19 is over 80 the current lockdown plan is the slowest way we can afford and even at that for many it won’t be affordable. Of course numbers are going to go up when a lockdown ends that’s obvious what needs to be done is for those at risk to be isolated and the rest of us to carry on as normal as we can. We can not afford to stay in a state of lockdown until a vaccine is found. I’m no medical expert but to my knowledge there is no cure for the common flu so why should we be so certain there will be one for this covid strain
@cian: It is not clear how long immunity will last for those that get infected – weeks or maybe months – this virus can not only attack the lungs but also the heart – potentially even young healthy people who get infected multiple times, could succumb to the virus just like older people and those with underlying conditions.
In Donegal its our 3rd day without a case..
Lets keep this going
North’s numbers are scary when you consider that they don’t include suspected deaths and non hospital deaths like we do, so you could double it to compare to ROI. No coincidence that border counties Cavan Monaghan are riddled with it.
Lockdown needs to continue up there too.
@Nioe: they do include and their stats are better than republic. 1450 per 4.8million.
And that was without shutting down early – something the executive wanted but overruled by Westminster.
They also had drive in testing well before ourselves.
No they don’t. They report like UK. Gas how you’re defending the NI government and lambasting ours for doing basically the same things. SF supporter no doubt.
Will Leo be getting the ferry to Belfast for the next north south meeting?
Arlene will have no prep done – replay of Armagh v Tyrone on bbc 2 tonight.
The only thing that will be easing on this island is the amount of truth I tell about taking home the average industrial wage to show me in solidarity with DE WURKERZ
@DessieEllisWorkingWage: Dessie with the special deal
@DessieEllisWorkingWage: But your ok with Paschal claiming 15,000 traveling allowance while cycling a couple of miles to work.
I love that they are not going to put down dates. It’s v wise. Continue to listen to the experts for guidance. Any phased easing of restrictions is a fantasy without knowing the many variables. Those variables are still hugely unknown.
Wonder will they still do some marches
Well Sweden has a busted flush!
@Daniel Kelly: And we also protected elderly in care….where have you been Mars?
@Daniel Kelly: Sssh , Sweden is the go to country when giving out about the government here. What do all the people who said “We should do what Sweden done” say now?
@Peter Hughes: Yeah keep dumping on everything from your own country cause you hate it so much because of a false pretence of the “elites” vs “de people” when really you’re just a failure
have your say