Stormont ministers to discuss heavier coronavirus fines and mask-wearing extensions

by Q Radio News and David Young, PA

Stormont Ministers will meet later to discuss further coronavirus regulations in Northern Ireland including heavier fines for breaches of covid-19 rules.

Justice minister Naomi Long is due to present the outcome of a rapid review into penalties and enforcement of the Covid-19 regulations at this  afternoon’s executive meeting.

It is understood a proposal to increase the fine that accompanies a fixed-penalty notice for a rule breach from £60 to £200.

The Executive Office is also due to present proposals around extending the public settings where face coverings should be mandatory.

If agreed, this would see the law widened to cover places such as office spaces, banks and building societies.

Coverings are already mandatory in shops and on public transport.

The meeting at Stormont comes as Northern Ireland continues to experience rocketing coronavirus infection rates.

The Derry City and Strabane Council area, which has one of the highest infection rates in the UK, is currently subject to additional restrictions.

While ministers are due to discuss the potential extension of restrictions to other council areas with high rates, such as Newry, Mourne and Down council, they are not anticipated to make final decisions today. 

During a Stormont press briefing on coronavirus, the Health Minister said virus "naysayers" are giving a two-fingered salute to the NHS. 

Robin Swann sad, The average number of daily new cases has been more than doubling within the last week yet some have shown “wilful complacency”, Robin Swann said.

He added, 106 Covid-19 patients were in hospital but warned that appeals to follow health advice may be falling on too many deaf ears and being undermined by too many self-appointed experts.

“It is what I would call wilful complacency.

“It is a two-fingered salute to the rest of us, to the medically vulnerable and to our health workers.

“These minority have decided that the risk to them personally is probably low, that they can just get on with their lives.”

(Health Minister Robin Swann) 

The proportion of those testing positive has risen to 12% some days.

Large numbers of cases in Newry and Down may be showing recent signs of stabilising, Stormont’s chief scientific adviser Professor Ian Young said.

He highlighted unpredictable and potentially long-lasting consequences for some who contracted the illness.

The reproductive rate of the virus is at around 1.5, explaining the large increase in cases and hospital admissions.

Prof Young said the number of admissions to hospital took off in the middle of last month and the tally of inpatients was doubling every week.

He added patient numbers could equal those seen during the first wave of the pandemic within two or three weeks.

“At the moment, the seven-day rolling average of new cases per day is above 500 and has more than doubled within the last week.”

Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said there was a rising trajectory of cases.

“Our health and care workers don’t wish to see you clapping once more, they need you to demonstrate your commitment and support by recommitting to the advice and measures that have gotten us this far to date.”

There have been 828 new cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland confirmed in the last 24 hours and one further death, according to the Department of Health.

Stormont ministers are “not crying wolf” over the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic, Arlene Foster said.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister acknowledged that people are “fed up” with Covid-19 and “want it to be over and done with” but urged continued compliance with public health rules.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Things are going to get worse if people don’t act now.”

The Executive is due to meet on Thursday to discuss further restrictions.

Ms O’Neill said that from a scientific perspective, it “seems unlikely” that the current restrictions will be sufficient to bring the R number back to less than one.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to “step up” to save jobs, describing the new support scheme to replace furlough as “not enough”.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy said there was an onus on the Treasury to provide additional financial support to the region if it had to enter a fresh period of widespread restrictions.

He announced a £350,000 Executive-funded grant scheme to support hospitality businesses impacted by added localised restrictions in force in the Derry and Strabane Council area.