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Northern Ireland\u2019s First and Deputy First Ministers have scaled back a US investment trip to take part in emergency meetings on Covid-19.<\/p>\nNorthern Ireland\u2019s First and Deputy First Ministers have scaled back a US investment trip to take part in emergency meetings on Covid-19.<\/p>\n
Arlene Foster said the infection was the top priority of ministers in Belfast.<\/p>\n
She and Michelle O\u2019Neill cancelled plans for the New York leg of their itinerary at the start of next week.<\/p>\n
Mrs Foster told the BBC\u2019s Good Morning Ulster program: \u201cOur top priority as leaders of the Executive is to make sure we are in a good position in relation to Covid-19 and the coronavirus and that we have all the planning in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we took the decision over the weekend that we felt we needed to be here for emergency meetings that take place on Monday of next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important that we are part of that and that we are involved in that so that is why we have decided to limit the trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
The DUP leader and Sinn F\u00e9in vice president are still anticipated to travel to Washington DC for a series of political meetings in the US capital later in the week.<\/p>\n
Health officials in Northern Ireland have said routine hospital appointments and surgeries may be postponed if Covid-19 infects large numbers of people.<\/p>\n
Wards could be set aside and more critical care beds added to the 100 already available.<\/p>\n
Drive-through screening, establishment of special pods separate from emergency departments and home testing kits may be needed if the virus spreads widely through the community.<\/p>\n
The aim is to \u201cflatten\u201d the main community transmission peak and delay it until summer when services are less stretched.<\/p>\n
Medical staff are in a phase of containment, Northern Ireland\u2019s chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, said.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWhat we are doing is planning for all eventualities.\u201d<\/p>\n
One person in Northern Ireland has been diagnosed with the condition.<\/p>\n
Around 99% of people affected will make a full recovery, while 95% will suffer mild to moderate symptoms which will not require hospital treatment, Dr McBride added.<\/p>\n
That is based on data from the source of the infection in China and those numbers will change as officials receive information from European systems more aligned with Northern Ireland\u2019s.<\/p>\n