Executive update on Stormont's Pathway to Recovery
We've got the latest news from today's briefing 👇
Last updated 25th Mar 2021
Northern Ireland will to adopt the UK's coronavirus red list of countries, business support grants will continue until lockdown lifts, and SureStart services have the green light to resume.
Those are some of the revelations from today's Stormont Executive update on the Hill of the O'Neill in Dungannon.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the updates come as the Executive continues on "a gradual and sustainable " pathway to recovery, and as vaccinations increase - and covid infections drop.
Northern Ireland's vaccination roll out has passed three landmarks in just one day. The total number of administered vaccines has pushed 800,000 and sits at 808,241.
The number of first doses provided has passed 700,000 and is now 703,334. And the total of second doses has moved beyond 100,000 to reach 104,907.
First Minister Arlene Foster said the R rate has fallen to between 0.75 and 0.95, with currently 54 hospital admissions across Northern Ireland, down from 79 a week ago.
"We continue to see evidence of the impact of the vaccination programme with the reduction of the number of new positive cases in the over-60s and we expect to see similar reduction in the over-50 category as the programme rolls out further," added Michelle O'Neill.
What will 2021 summer look like?
Health minister Robin Swann suggested yesterday at that international holidays are not looking likely in 2021.
The Executive confirmed today that Ministers have been making preparations to introduce managed isolation in hotel accommodation for those arriving into Northern Ireland.
When asked about the prospect of travel Michelle O'Neill says they have to keep things under a constant review.
"We don't know what the situation is going to be in a month, in two month’s time, we don’t know how things are going to be shaping up across Europe," she said.
Northern Ireland will follow the UK’s coronavirus red list of countries, First Minister Arlene Foster added. There are currently no international flights landing in Northern Ireland.
The Executive is working on hotel quarantine plans for travellers arriving from abroad.
Youths services will return
The Firs Minister revealed that youth services are to return, as part of an "ongoing commitment to support the emotional health and well0being of our children and young people".
This will include the limited reopening, of Sure Start and youth services.
It will mean a three-stage return of generic youth services, aimed at preventing "social exclusion or isolation".
Reacting, Education Minister Peter Weir said: “The COVID pandemic has created many pressures on families and it is clear that these pressures are having greatest impact where disadvantage already exists.
"I have therefore been focused on the reopening of vital programmes such as Sure Start and the Pathway Fund which provide much needed support to children.
“The restart of services must, of course, be balanced with the risk of transmitting the COVID virus. Therefore, services will initially be open where children only are attending. We will, of course, seek to reopen all services, as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Extension to the Business Support Scheme
The Business Support Scheme that supports local businesses and safeguards jobs has been extended, Ministers announced today.
Mrs Foster said the support grant for tourism and hospitality businesses will also be extended, and will go beyond 31 March, for as long as restrictions are in place.
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