Coronavirus continues to rapidly spread across Derry
He made his remarks after his Department of Health announced earlier that 424 new positive cases and one death from Coronavirus in the North of ireland in the last 24 hours.
And out of the 424, 139 of which were in the Derry and Strabane council area.
At a press briefing at Stormont this afternoon, Minister Swann said that when he looked at where Derry and Strabane City council area is in terms of Covid figures, he thinks it is “inevitable” that there will be further restrictions in that area.
Derry and Strabane has an infection rate of 323 per 100,000 in the past seven days.
The region’s number of cases per 100,000 people is now among the UK’s highest, with doctors warning the surge in cases may be down to a “rebellious approach” to public health guidance.
Mr Swann says he did not want to pre-empt anything ahead of Thursday’s executive meeting, but warns that action had to be taken.
“It’s the area where we’re seeing the largest increase in cases – it’s also where we’re seeing the largest number of cases in those under 40.
“The concern we have for that is that then leads into the elderly population – 66% of cases in the area are in those under 40 and it’s only a matter of time before that translates to those over 60 who are vulnerable.
“That’s why we bring in measures now to reduce the ability of community transmission.”
He added: “The grim truth of where we are and where we are heading has become even clearer today.
“We are at a crossroads and if our behaviours do not change, hospital inpatient numbers will exceed those of the first wave”.
Mr Swann said he was “more concerned about what lies ahead” than at any stage since he became minister in January.
The Minister added that it was “inconceivable” for the Executive not to take further action.
The Executive meets on Thursday to review the Coronavirus data and take advice on whether further punitive restrictions need to be imposed to stop the spread of the virus.
“Those conversations will happen tomorrow and we will have to decide what new restrictions apply and whether they are NI-wide, or whether they are more localised.”
Four of the highest daily numbers of new cases since the current tests model was introduced have been confirmed in the past six days.
Three hundred and twenty new cases were announced on Tuesday and 1,950 in the last seven days.
Health Minister Robin Swann
“We can push this virus back.”
One possibility of stopping the virus spread would be to have a ‘circuit breaker’ – a short two week lockdown period – around the school holiday at the end of October.
“I think one of the things we want to maintain is our schools and keeping them open in whatever fashion is necessary, so if there was a circuit breaker that could be brought in around the Halloween break, it would get us around having to close schools.
“With what we’re seeing in regards to the advancement of cases, it’s a question of whether or not we can wait until then.”
Tags: