Another 49 people test positive for coronavirus as FM says local lockdowns may be needed

By Q Radio News

Another 49 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Northern Ireland within the past 24 hours. 

No new deaths have been recorded by the Department of Health. 

It means the death toll here remains at 567.

It comes as Arlene Foster said the Northern Ireland Executive may have to introduce local lockdowns to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 which is rising in certain parts of the province.

The First Minister said the Executive will meet on Thursday to discuss further measures.

“We’re discussing these matters tomorrow and it may be that we have to take similar interventions in various places,” she said.

“What we don’t want to see happening is going back to where we were in March and April time.

“We want to take proportionate action and we will always have to under the law.

“We will have a full discussion on Covid. You have seen limited lockdowns in other parts of the UK and the Republic, we haven’t had to do that thus far, we may have to do that again tomorrow.”

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the Executive will be guided by public health advice.

“The fact that we have data that brings you right down to the postcode level shows that we are able to adapt in a smaller geographical area where we need to,” she added.

“I think it’s inevitable that we will be moving very quickly to local lockdowns that’s going to be required in order to protect people.”

Mrs Foster also said she hopes to give an indicative date for the reopening of so-called “wet pubs” on Thursday.

“What we are seeing is household transmission and I think that’s the same in other parts of the UK. If you look at what is happening in Glasgow when they introduced restrictions it was in and around households, so it’s not to do with the opening up of hospitality,'' she added. 

“Having been out and about I have been very impressed in the way in which the hospitality sector have been able to mitigate against Covid-19, and restrict movement but yet offer a service.

“I think it is unfair that one section of one part of our economy have not been able to open.

“I hope that we can give an indicative date tomorrow to those wet pubs.

“They deserve it and people have been abiding by the law for a very long time and I want to pay tribute to their resilience, but I think we do need to give them, in a graduated way, a date they can reopen.”