{"id":23118,"date":"2021-09-20T11:25:05","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T15:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23118"},"modified":"2021-09-20T11:25:09","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T15:25:09","slug":"oneill-urges-caution-on-further-lockdown-easing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23118","title":{"rendered":"O’Neill Urges Caution On Further Lockdown Easing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland\u2019s deputy First Minister has urged a cautious approach to further lockdown relaxations amid high Covid rates and pressures on the health service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle O\u2019Neill returned to Stormont on Monday following her own battle with the virus which she described as having \u201cfloored her\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said Thursday\u2019s meeting of the Executive was an \u201cimportant\u201d one and would look at pandemic planning for the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sinn F\u00e9in vice president said she would advocate a cautious approach to easing further restrictions, adding that it was \u201cunhelpful\u201d for DUP ministers to take \u201csolo runs\u201d discussing dates which had not been discussed by the Executive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cClearly we are experiencing very high levels of Covid, a very difficult time for the health service. Healthcare staff are stretched to full capacity and really exhausted after the last 18 months, and they continue to really feel that pressure,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the Executive on Thursday will have to look at where we are now, have to look about planning for the winter and what\u2019s going to be a very uncertain period, I think, over the winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have to take decisions, I believe we need to be cautious, we need to make progress, of course, but we need to move very cautiously as we go through the next number of months if we\u2019re going to protect not only ourselves, our loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just in terms of the Covid crisis and the pressure in our hospitals, it\u2019s the knock-on impact that it has across our health service for those patients requiring treatment for many other conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is all a very challenging picture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DUP Economy Minister Gordon Lyons had expressed hope that all remaining coronavirus restrictions could be lifted by October 22nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms O\u2019Neill said she had \u201calways advocated the cautious approach\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat we take things very steady, when we\u2019re able to make easements, we have to measure those easements,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very clear the winter months ahead are going to be difficult. It\u2019s already a difficult picture within the health service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s very unhelpful for DUP ministers to take solo runs in terms of setting out dates that have not been discussed at the Executive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we need on Thursday is that steady, cautious approach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms O\u2019Neill said she planned to visit a hospital on Tuesday to talk to staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to visit a hospital in the morning and hear from staff first-hand the pressure that they are under, and I have no doubt their plea will be for a steady, cautious approach from the Executive, and that is something that I will be supporting at the Executive on Thursday, and hope that\u2019s where we end up,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

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