THE STORMONT Executive has extended restrictions to all households across the North of Ireland over the continued rise in positive cases from Coronavirus.
People will not be allowed to mix with other households from 6 pm on Tuesday, September 22.
The news has been announced at a press conference held by First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
First Minister Arlene Foster says doing nothing was not an option but neither was returning to a full lockdown.
Mrs Foster says restrictions are limited and “we are in a better place than at the height of the pandemic”.
The restrictions mean that people from different households cannot mix indoors unless they are in a social bubble.
More than six people cannot meet outdoors.
The First Minister Arlene says the North of Ireland is now dealing with outbreaks in every county and without action there is a real risk of increasing spread.
She says this could lead to increasing hospitalisations and deaths.
The latest statistics by the Department of the Health released Monday said there had been two further deaths and 125 positive cases in the last 24 hours.
The first minister criticises those who have “crowded into house parties, swarmed the streets of Belfast’s Holyland” district or ran onto the pitch at a GAA match.
Arlene Foster says some people “have lost the run of themselves”.
“That kind of behaviour just isn’t a risk to those present, but of course for everyone they subsequently come into contact with,” she says.
Mrs Foster added: “We can do this and we can all work together to combat this deadly disease.”
The DUP leader said that the spread of the virus is more prevalent in households than in licensed premises which have hand sanitisers.
‘Wet’ pubs are due to open in the North of Ireland this Wednesday, September 23.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill says the fact that over 1,000 cases were recorded across the island of Ireland at the weekend should act as a “wake-up call to everyone.”
“We have between two to three weeks from now to suppress substantial transmission, otherwise we risk even more cases by mid-October,” she said.
“The data is showing very clearly that the number of areas of concern are multiplying very rapidly.”
She says the “coming months will be tough”.
“It will require a balanced response between implementing restrictions and co-existing with Covid-19 as we live our lives,” she said.
“We’re in a period where we need to have each other’s backs.
“This is about saving lives, this is about protecting the most vulnerable – this is about looking after granny and granda, this is about looking after mummy and daddy.”
The next two to three weeks will be “crucial” for the months ahead, according to the deputy first minister.
“We can reverse this trend, we can take a grip on Covid-19 again,” Michelle O’Neill said.
“Our actions in the next two to three weeks will dictate what happens in the weeks and months ahead.
“It’s crucially important that people work with us in this period albeit we accept that this is very challenging.”
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