Health Minister warns of the potential for a further surge in Covid-19 cases in the region

By Q Radio News

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister has warned of the potential for a further surge in Covid-19 cases in the region.

Mr Swann said the vaccination programme offered the hope of “better times ahead” with “more freedoms and more normality”.

“We cannot jeopardise that better future by being reckless now,” he said.

“We have so much work to do, both in terms of combating the virus and repairing the great damage it has caused.

“Rebuilding health services post-pandemic is a top priority of mine, particularly the need to address the backlog in operations and other treatments.

“The potential for a further surge in Covid-19 cases, however, represents the single biggest threat to that crucial rebuilding.

“That’s a major reason why we need to be cautious now.

“As I have stressed before, the best way to protect non-Covid care is to stop the virus spreading.”

Robin Swann warns the potential surge in Covid cases remains the biggest threat to the rebuilding of the health service following 10 years of financial stringency

He says it remains fragile and must be protected.

It comes as Fermanagh & Omagh council area sees no new cases. pic.twitter.com/wQVyvP6xH0

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) March 24, 2021

Mr Swann said the pandemic had highlighted the “serious fragilities” in the region’s health service, particularly in terms of staffing capacity.

“It’s no secret that our health and care system was already under immense pressure pre-Covid,” he said.

“Ten years of financial stringency had undoubtedly taken their toll.

“Northern Ireland is by no means unique in that regard.

However, our system has been particularly fragile and strained for several years in comparison to neighbouring jurisdictions.

Just look at our waiting-time statistics. “Resilience here has been seriously impacted by having a system that has been repeatedly documented as needing change. “Successive reports over many years have sounded a bleak warning in that regard. “Opportunities for investment and reform have been missed, opportunities to build greater capacity and resilience.

“The fragilities in our system underline the particular need for caution in Northern Ireland, as we emerge from lockdown.

“Our health and care services have had the toughest of years. They still need our protection now. “We do that by doing all we can to keep Covid infection rates down in the days, weeks and months ahead.”

Robin Swann has also said foreign holidays this summer are “very much” out.

Mr Swann said ministers across the UK and Ireland were having discussions about drawing up “red lists” related to countries posing the highest Covid risks.

He said the executive task force was still drawing up plans for hotel quarantining for international arrivals but he stressed there were still no direct international flights coming into the region at the moment.

Meanwhile,

Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride has announced the easing of safety advice to those considered clinically extremely vulnerable in Northern Ireland.

Since December 26 2020, CEV people have been advised to adhere to additional steps to protect themselves from Covid-19, including advice not to attend a workplace if they are unable to work from home.

Dr McBride said there would be a graduated easing of the advice from April 12, with the first step in relation to the workplace.

He said if people could not work from home they could go back to the workplace, as long as appropriate safety measures were in place.

“From the outset, protecting the most vulnerable people from Covid-19 has been a key priority,” he said.

“If the current good progress in relation to the virus is maintained, I am pleased to recommend that CEV people will be able to attend work after April 12, provided the proper measures have been taken regarding the biosecurity of the workplace.

“This is an important step to helping CEV people re-engage with everyday life with confidence.”

The head of the vaccine roll out in Northern Ireland has appealed to people not to abuse the online booking system.

📍 Don’t book multiple appointments

📍 Don’t be a no show

📍 Don’t book if you are not eligible pic.twitter.com/lXxrWnsx8X

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) March 24, 2021