Health Minister Robin Swann hailed the fact zero Covid related deaths were announced today but warned that the virus is “still in our midst”.
He said "we have all been waiting for a day like this", but added there were “no grounds for complacency” and that to let our guard down now would be “an insult to those who have sadly lost their lives” during the pandemic.
And despite the fact no new deaths, of people who have tested positive for Covid-19, were recorded, Mr Swann cautioned that “sadly there will be more lives lost in the days and weeks ahead”.
A second wave, he said, is “expected”, so we must “keep fighting back”.
The Minister added: “Our actions have consequences. Don’t let your actions have consequences for someone you love.”
If people “get it into their heads that the emergency is over the consequences will be catastrophic”, he added.
At the Stormont briefing, he insisted he did want to be drawn on the row over Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trip to Durham, but did say his actions were “ill judged”.
The minister also warned that the health service in the region would “never be the same again” after the Coronavirus emergency.
He also commented more broadly on his plans for the reform of the care home sector, saying that while funding is an issue “some firms” in the sector have “recorded huge profits”.
The funding that is directed to the sector, he added, should be going to the “front line”, the Minister added.
The Minister was pressed on when he became aware of the situation at Clifton Nursing Home and on whether there should be a public inquiry into how the entire sector is run. He would only say that he became aware “a number of weeks” ago.
It was announced on Friday, that Clifton Nursing Home residents were to be moved after the RQIA watchdog raised concerns about its management of the Coronavirus outbreak.
The company that operates the home, Runwood Homes, said in a statement issued on Monday that “staff worked incredibly hard to maintain good standards of care”.
Talks are ongoing to find an independent care home provider to take over the running of the North Belfast facility so that residents have the option of staying there rather than being moved to new premises.
Minister Swann conceded that “no doubt” there may be enquiries in the future but that “now is not the time” as we are “still fighting Covid-19”.
Campaigners have called for answers regarding a review that was commissioned in July 2018 into the sector in the wake of shortcomings that were identified at the Dunmurry Manor care home. That care home is also run by Runwood Homes.
According to the Department of Health, in July 2018, the “independent review, which we have commissioned CPEA to carry-out, will give us a clear picture of how these care failings came about and, crucially, how we can put systems in place to prevent them occurring again”.
Asked what happened with the review, the Minister said he had received a “briefing” about it just before Coronavirus struck and that it “was due to be published”.
He added that “work completed” as part of that review “could be looked at regarding knowing how to take the next step” in reform of the sector.
The social care system, he said, “does need a lot of work and a lot of reform”.
