Executive agrees more measures to drive down Covid numbers
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The Executive has agreed a series of new measures aimed at strengthening adherence to Covid rules in Northern Ireland.
Ministers met this morning (Tuesday) to resume discussions on a range of proposals after yesterday’s meeting broke up without agreement.
Some revisions have been made to the Health Minister's original recommendations.
People will be urged to work from home where possible and the Executive has tasked its Covid task force to examine issues around enforcement of mask wearing and look at the potential of setting up a scores-on-the-doors type system to rate businesses on their compliance with rules and mitigations.
It comes after Robin Swann said in the Assembly yesterday some hospitality venues may be asked to close their doors over Christmas if Covid-19 cases continue to increase.
Mr Swann made the comments during a debate on Covid regulations, but stressed that closures were not inevitable.
Mr Swann told the Assembly: "If the current trajectory continues with regard to the increased cases we are seeing, we may once again face the possibility where venues are asked to close their doors during the Christmas season.
"But let me be clear, it is not inevitable and I do not want to have to reintroduce further restrictions unless completely unavoidable."
Following the Executive meeting First Minister Paul Givan tweeted: "The Executive has engaged constructively & agreed a number of measures that will step up our collective efforts against the spread of Covid.
"Whilst there is differences across society on the most effective measures, we can all make a contribution that will help make a difference."
More to follow.
Take a look back at life in lockdown ⬇️
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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