Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA, Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Ian Young, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride, have updated the Health Committee on the Department of Health’s Covid-19 Response this afternoon.
As of today, 7,442 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, and 563 people have passed away.
The ‘R’ number is 1.3, remaining steady from last week’s reproductive rate.
The Minister told the Committee that 60% of new cases are under 39, with 10% over 60+. The flip in ages from the first wave of the virus was ‘inevitable’ according to the Chief Scientific Advisor as younger generations go back to work and social settings.
The second Covid Surge Strategic Framework will be published at the end of September. The Minister told the Committee the draft version had been sent to key stakeholders including trade unions and the members of the Transformation Advisory Board yesterday evening for their views.
The second Nightingale Hospital at Whiteabbey Hospital will be used as a ‘step-down’ centre meaning it is for the recovery and rehab of patients who have had Covid-19 but do not need ventilation or critical care.
Belfast City Hospital will remain as the critical care unit if needed in a second wave.
The StopCovidNI App has been successful according to the Health Minister, with 328,000 downloads of the app in the past month. 279 people have been identified and tested positive from the app, and a further 475 people have been notified of a potential exposure.
CMO, Dr Michael McBride said that there will be no vaccine available until it goes through the correct frameworks including the Health Research Authority approval system and the UK-wide Joint Committee on Vaccine Immunisation.
School restart was discussed, and the Minister told the Committee the Chief Medical and Scientific Officers meet with the Education Authority twice weekly to assess the impact of children returning to school.
Following announcements of the reconvening of elective treatments and orthopaedic surgeries in Lagan Valley and Musgrave Park Hospital, the Minister said that targets have been set at each location to help decrease waiting lists. The Minister said that as expected waiting lists have risen, and now the Department of Health are working to tackle this. The recommencing of these services is part of stage one of the ‘Rebuilding HSC’ framework.
Over one million units of the winter flu vaccine have been ordered, 250,000 more than last year. The Minister said his Department will be urging as many as possible to avail of the vaccine as there is concern over the mix of Covid-19 and the flu. He said the Department is working with the community pharmacy network and GPs to ensure the flu immunisation is as widely available as possible.