Omicron surge to be discussed by Stormont
Ministers are meeting today to review the latests Covid-19 data
Last updated 6th Jan 2022
A meeting of the Executive is happening today as Northern Ireland continues to grapple with the latest wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ministers are expected to review the current Covid-19 data as the new Omicron variant continues to cause a surge in positive cases.
However, no further restrictions are expected to be imposed at this stage.
Yesterday (Wednesday) a further 7,133 people tested positive for the virus.
While, Covid-19 cases soared at the end of 2021, with the Department of Health reporting 30,423 cases between midnight on December 30 and midnight on January 3.
The return of schools could also be discussed as teaching unions have expressed concerns that schools are struggling with staff shortages and contact tracing issues.
Professor Ian Young said there will “inevitably” be further cases when schools return, despite any mitigations put in place due to the very high community transmission.
The growing concern about pupils returning to face-to-face teaching has resulted in a motion to recall the Stormont Assembly being submitted.
Meanwhile, ahead of today's Executive meeting the Department of Health issued new guidance on testing requirements.
The department said those who get a positive lateral flow test should assume they have Covid-19 and immediately self-isolate without seeking a confirmatory PCR test.
The removal of the confirmatory PCR test requirement has been described as a temporary measure in response to the very high prevalence of the virus at present.
Those who test positive for Covid-19 can leave self-isolation after seven days if they test negative on day six and day seven.
Downtown Radio and Cool FM asked members of the public in Londonderry how they feel about the current Covid-19 situation across NI.
“I honestly think we have to keep trying to live with this instead of closing everything down.”
A woman in Derry said: “To be honest I think we just need to learn to live with it but people who do actually have it should be still self-isolating.
“I know a lot of people who’ve had positive lateral flows and they just go about normal until they get their PCR.
“It makes me feel kind if annoyed and angry because they’re shutting down everything else for us.
“I honestly think we have to keep trying to live with this instead of closing everything down.”
While a mother said: “Because we’re never going to get on with this, this is nearly two years now in the making of it.
“So, no I think they have to keep going with it.”
Meanwhile, another parent said: “My daughter’s classroom was shut down there just before Christmas because there was a cluster.
“But it was just so confusing the school didn’t know what they were doing.”
An elderly lady described the case numbers as “frightening”.
She added: “I don’t know why they’re reacting too slowly; I think they should be reacting now.
“Nobody likes them (lockdowns), but I suppose they needed to be done at the time, but I think that Covid is something that we’re going to have to just learn to live with.
“The schools should be shut.
“They keep saying they’re going to keep the schools open; I really do think they should close them.
“It’s not my decision but that’s what I think.”
Boris Johnson announces national lockdown
After a troubled Christmas period, Boris Johnson started the year by giving a televised address to the nation instructing everyone to "stay at home" for a third time. By this date, nearly 70,000 cases were diagnosed daily in the UK, with much of the England in lockdown-style Tier 4. During his speech, he noted that the country had to band together before vaccines could provide proper protection. He encouraged people to join together in a national effort to fight the virus, concluding with the by now well-known strap line: "stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives".
Clap for Carers
Three days after the Prime Minister introduced the stay at home restrictions, people around the UK came out onto their doorsteps at 8pm to clap in recognition of the carers who were fighting the virus on the frontline. This Clap for Carers took place every Thursday at 8pm for 10 weeks.
NHS Rainbows
NHS Rainbows thanking the staff who battled the virus on the front line popped up in windows across the country. The pictures aimed to bring hope and positivity when people were struggling.
Captain Tom Moore makes history
99-year old Captain Tom Moore completed 100 laps of his garden on 16 April 2020 ahead of his 100th birthday, eventually raising over £30 million for the NHS. He was knighted by the Queen in honour of his achievements and was named a pandemic hero by the public. He sadly died at the age of 100 in January 2021.
Testing Covid-19 vaccines
At the end of April 2020 Oxford University launched a trial testing a potential Covid-19 on human participants.
First easing of restrictions
Restrictions in each devolved nation started to ease for the first time in early summer 2020. Despite each country moving at a different pace with slightly different rules, measures were slowly relaxed to allow people to meet outside and even to permit small groups to gather inside. Businesses also reopened in a Covid secure manner.
Tiers system
Each nation in the UK took a different approach to managing the ongoing crisis. In October 2020, Boris Johnson introduced a three tier system in England, by which areas were assigned tiers as according to their rates of Covid-19. The tiers were divided into Medium, High and Very High and restrictions varied by level.
Meanwhile, an extended October break for schools was announced in Northern Ireland as well as the closure of businesses including bars, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers as cases continued to rise.
Eat Out To Help Out Scheme
More than 2.7 million meals were claimed in NI as part of the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The initiative gave diners up to £10 off their restaurant bills from Monday to Wednesday during August. It was designed to encourage people to go out and support the hospitality sector, which was among the hardest hit by the coronavirus lockdown.
First vaccine
In December, 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive a Covid-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial, marking a momentous moment in the world's fight the defeat the pandemic.
Christmas plans change
Northern Ireland reduced the planned five days of Christmas bubbling to one day only and introduced a national lockdown from boxing day.
January lockdowns
The stay at home message was reintroduced from Boxing Day 2020 to 6th February, and was then extended to 1st April in Northern Ireland
100,000 deaths
The UK's Covid-19 death toll officially reached 100,000 on 26 January 2021. This statistic was based on those with Covid-19 on their death certificate and does not include deaths caused by issues related to the impact of the pandemic.
Captain Sir Tom Moore dies with Covid-19
Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised millions for the NHS during the pandemic, died with Covid-19 in February at the age of 100. To recognise the national treasure, Prime Minister Boris Johnson led a nation wide clap in the veteran's honour.
Roadmap out of lockdown
In early March this year, Northern Ireland's roadmap out of lockdown was agreed by the Executive. Their blueprint focused on nine key areas, including education and retail, with the hope of slowly easing social restrictions. Ministers made clear that their 'Pathway to Recovery' would be led by data - not dates! Decisions on when to move between stages is based on scientific and medical evidence, not the calendar.
SSE Arena mass vaccination site
The car park at the SSE Arena Belfast was already being used as a Covid-19 testing facility and now the arena is being used to administer around 40,000 vaccines per week.
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