Eight deaths, 791 new Covid-19 cases in NI as Ministers fail to agree on new restrictions
NI Health Minister Robin Swann Picture: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA
Stormont ministers have again failed to agree fresh coronavirus restrictions for Northern Ireland amid fraying relations at the top of the powersharing administration.
There have been eight further Covid-19-related deaths in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours.
According to the NI Department Health, an additional 791 new cases of the virus have also been confirmed in the North.
There has now been a total of 810 confirmed Covid-19-related deaths in NI since the outbreak began.
The total number of positive cases identified in the North now stands at 44,693 Department of Health officials said that 441 people with the virus are currently in Northern Irish hospitals - 47 of whom are in intensive care units.
Hospital bed occupancy in the North is now at 99%.
News of the latest deaths and cases come as the executive failed to reach consensus on further restrictions after a lengthy and at times acrimonious meeting on Tuesday night.
The Department of Health #COVID19 dashboard has been updated with latest data.
— Department of Health (@healthdpt) November 11, 2020
791 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Sadly, a further 8 deaths have been reported. https://t.co/YN16dmGzhv pic.twitter.com/CRhTmiJwLe
It was the second night in a row the executive broke up without agreement.
Ministers are expected to resume debate later on Wednesday on proposals that would see a partial reopening of the hospitality sector.
The current four-week circuit break lockdown ends at midnight on Thursday, at which point regulations that have forced the closure of much of the hospitality sector will fall away.
Ministers are facing mounting criticism for failing to tell businesses whether they will be able to reopen on Friday.
There were angry exchanges at the outset of Tuesday’s meeting when the DUP moved to block a proposal from health minister Robin Swann to extend the circuit break measures for two more weeks.
The DUP used a contentious Stormont mechanism – a cross-community vote – to effectively veto the proposal, despite support for the move by a majority of executive parties.
Mr Swann and senior health officials had warned that Covid-19 cases were likely to spike again in mid-December if the fortnight extension was not approved.
Later ministers debated alternative proposals tabled by economy minister Diane Dodds, which included the reopening of cafes and coffee shops, but again a consensus proved elusive.
An anticipated vote on those proposals did not proceed and the meeting concluded after midnight without agreement on a way forward.
Earlier, Alliance Party justice minister Naomi Long had been particularly critical of the deployment of the cross-community vote – a mechanism designed to protect minority rights in a post-conflict society – to torpedo health regulations.
However, the vote also created anger within the DUP, with the party understood to be furious at Sinn Féin’s decision to back Mr Swann’s proposal.
A senior party source accused Sinn Féin of “somersaulting” on an apparent pledge to endorse the reopening of cafes and restaurants.
The source claimed Sinn Féin agreed that position at the weekend, pointing to a Sunday media interview in which deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the executive was looking at ways of “opening things up perhaps without alcohol”.
The source further claimed Sinn Féin changed position on the instruction of its Dublin powerbase.
The claims were robustly rejected by Sinn Féin, with the party insisting it was acting in line with medical and scientific advice.
A senior Sinn Féin source said: “We always said any movement had to be based on medical advice”.
After Mr Swann’s paper was voted down, ministers turned to debating the alternative proposals tabled by Mrs Dodds.
The PA news agency understands those measures include:
- Close contact services, including hairdressing, beauty treatments and driving lessons, resuming on November 13 by appointment only.
- Unlicensed premises, including cafes and coffee shops, reopening on November 13.
- Hotels able to serve food and alcohol to residents.
- Licensed premises remaining closed until November 27. A “Safely open group”, involving hospitality sector and executive, to be established to oversee this move.
- Pubs and bars able to offer sealed off-sales from November 13.
During the meeting, chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride and chief scientific adviser professor Ian Young briefed ministers on the implications of each move on Covid-19 infection rates.
Officials are due to return to discussions on Mrs Dodds’ proposals later on Wednesday.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
