{"id":23593,"date":"2021-10-22T09:17:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T13:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23593"},"modified":"2021-10-22T10:20:24","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T14:20:24","slug":"top-doctor-brands-relaxation-of-lockdowns-in-the-north-as-complete-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23593","title":{"rendered":"Top Doctor Brands Relaxation Of Lockdowns In The North As ‘Complete Madness’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dr Tom Black said the North\u2019s health service was entering into the \u2018worst crisis ever.\u2019 (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A decision to lift coronavirus rules in the North despite mounting pressures on the region’s health service has been branded \u201ccomplete madness\u201d by medics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Tom Black, chair of BMA\u2019s Northern Ireland council, said the relaxations planned for the end of the month would ultimately lead to more Covid-19 deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He criticized the move as \u201cstupidity\u201d as he warned the health system in the region was facing its \u201cworst crisis ever\u201d this winter as it dealt with the \u201ctriple whammy\u201d of Covid, winter pressures and spiraling waiting lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 31st, nightclubs are due to reopen in the North and social distancing rules that currently limit capacity in bars and restaurants will move from regulation to guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People will also be able to move freely around hospitality premises from that date, including being able to stand at the bar for a drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indoor dancing will also resume across the hospitality sector at the end of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those decisions were taken at the start of the October and at an Executive meeting on Thursday ministers agreed to press ahead with the moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also confirmed that night clubbers would not have to wear masks when dancing or in settings that involved eating or drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Black told BBC Radio Ulster: \u201cIf you open up the nightclubs to young people who aren\u2019t vaccinated, they will increase the infection rate, that will increase admissions to hospital, that will increase mortality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the planned relaxations were \u201ccomplete madness and stupidity\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve eased the restrictions for that group of people in our community who have failed to become vaccinated,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have 25 per cent of the 18 to 29 group non-vaccinated, 21 per cent of the 30 to 39s, and what do we do with them? We say \u2018you know what, you can go out, you can eat, you can drink, you can dance, forget about masks, forget about social distancing\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2019You\u2019re the group that are at highest risk, please go out and spread the infection, and then take it home to your granny\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the medical professionals\u2019 response to this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Black added: \u201cWe\u2019re being overwhelmed at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is not the time to ease restrictions, this is the time to turn to those people who aren\u2019t vaccinated and say \u2018you\u2019re letting us down, you\u2019re betraying your friends, your relatives and your granny, you\u2019re out there, mixing, spreading the infection\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s seeping through into the older people and people are landing into hospital and dying because our young folk won\u2019t get vaccinated \u2013 that\u2019s not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The BMA NI council chair continued: \u201cWe\u2019re entering into the worst crisis ever \u2013 this winter is going to be much worse than last winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy? Because the triple whammy of Covid, the winter pressures, the waiting lists. And we have to tighten our belt, do the right thing and not indulge in wishful thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

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