Fresh Northern Ireland lockdown 'unlikely' but more restrictions not ruled out, medical chief says

• UTV political editor Tracey Magee speaks to the chief medical officer Michael McBride

Northern Ireland has been warned that fresh restrictions could be introduced this winter, despite another full lockdown being viewed as 'unlikely.'

Chief medical officer Sir Michael McBride has said he does not foresee another coronavirus lockdown.

However, he warned that Northern Ireland was facing a very serious situation and some further restrictions on certain settings may be required if efforts to suppress the current wave fail.

It comes as Stormont prepares to introduce Covid passport limits on entry to hospitality venues including bars, restaurants and cinemas, and theatres, and curbs on large gatherings.

The plans are set to take affect in mid-December following a grace-period, after Health Minister Robin Swann pushed through the proposal for certification against DUP opposition.

“I don’t think that we’ll go back to the situation that we had before, back in March last year, when we had that lockdown,” Sir Michael told BBC Radio Ulster on Friday.

He said Northern Ireland' vaccination programme meant a lockdown was less likely.

“I do not think that we will go back to the damaging impact of lockdowns, however we may need to consider our wider restrictions in certain environments and sectors where we know the risks are higher,” he said.

“If we don’t act now and if we don’t act decisively, unfortunately we may well be back advising the Executive that further interventions are needed to prevent our health service being overwhelmed.”

Sir Michael said the easing of restrictions in the hospitality sector at the end of October had led to a “very significant uptick in cases”.

The region’s chief scientific adviser, Professor Ian Young, said there is a “menu of measures” that are known to be effective that can be recommended to the Stormont Executive in mid-December if the situation deteriorates.

He indicated those would include restrictions or closures in some sectors, but that closing retail would be unlikely.

“We’re seeing a strong upward trajectory of cases in Northern Ireland and that’s a pattern that we’re seeing in the Republic of Ireland and also in many countries across western Europe as we move into the winter,” he told the Nolan Show.

“In about three to four weeks’ time if we don’t take any action, then it looks as if the hospitals would be at risk of being overwhelmed.

“We’re still not at the levels of Covid that we saw last winter… the hospitals have contingency plans in place and those plans are being activated but if the Covid numbers rise more significantly then even those plans may not be sufficient.”

Asked about the Department of Health proposal to strengthen working from home guidance, Sir Michael said evidence indicated that was potentially “one of the single most effective interventions”.

He said people did not need to cancel scheduled Christmas parties at this stage but advised them to take precautions to minimise risk, such as taking a lateral flow test prior to attending.

A further six deaths of patients who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 and another 1,681 cases of the virus were notified in Northern Ireland on Thursday.

On the same day there were 419 Covid-positive patients in hospital, with 34 in intensive care.

The CMO stressed the virus is unpredictable, and while officials can model scenarios, much depends on whether the public follow health guidelines.

“The next couple of weeks are going to be very, very challenging,” he told the Nolan Show.

“No one should be in any doubt whatsoever about the urgency and seriousness of the situation we are currently now facing into, with the 23% increase in cases in the last week and a 19% increase in hospital admissions with Covid.

“We need to act now… it means all of us making sure that we are fully vaccinated, to work from home where it is practically possible."