Executive to meet again as Covid numbers surge

THE Northern Ireland Executive will meet again today (Thursday) to discuss whether or not to introduce more Covid-19 restrictions, as cases continue to surge in Tyrone and across the North.

With the local infection rate remaining high, figures released yesterday (Wednesday) showed the South West Acute hospital (SWAH) is currently operating above capacity at 130 per-cent.

Any hospital displaying an occupancy capacity beyond 100 per-cent indicates that the hospital is operating above its current available bed capacity.

Amid this latest surge, the Western Trust this week issued an emergency workforce appeal, urging staff to give up their free time to come in to work at the SWAH.

The Fermanagh and Omagh District has the second-highest infection rate in the North at the time of writing, with neighbouring Derry City and Strabane the highest.

Yesterday, the Department of Health announced that a PCR test will no longer be needed to confirm a positive lateral flow test and to assume that you are infected with Covid-19 if positive.

Despite the sharp rise in infections across the North, last week the Executive agreed that no new further Covid-19 restrictions would be introduced. However, that decision will be the subject of a further review today.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill tweeted after the meeting that the Omicron variant now accounted for more than 90 per-cent of cases in the North.

She stated that the Executive would “continue to monitor the situation closely”, and urged people to get the booster jab.

This was reiterated in a statement by Health Minister Robin Swann, after 30,423 new cases were recorded over a four-day period.

The Health Minister said, “As expected, we are now facing into an unprecedented surge, due to the Omicron variant. These figures are deeply concerning and will inevitably mean yet more pressures for health and social care services.

“The risk of getting infected with Covid-19 is considerably higher than at any previous time in the pandemic.

“Faced with this very real threat, getting your booster dose right now is the single most important step you can take.”