Coronavirus: Concern over attitude to lockdown as five more deaths confirmed

There have been 294 coronavirus-related deaths in NI

The health minister has said Northern Ireland's biggest threat in the fight against Covid-19 is complacency as five more deaths were reported.

They bring NI's death toll as recorded by the health department - which covers mainly hospital deaths - to 299.

The figures are expected to rise once deaths in care homes and in the community are taken into account.

Robin Swann said he was concerned people were "starting to ease up on their responsibility" over lockdown.

He said the executive was working on steps they could take to return to a sense of normality but there would be no timetable.

"It will encourage a greater sense of ease and complacency if people think 'well, if it'll be alright in two weeks so it'll be alright today'," he told the BBC.

Health Minister Robin Swann says now is not the time to become complacent

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Sunday with Steven Rainey show, Mr Swann said: "These are tough times and tough asks but the reason we're asking people to respect these draconian asks is to save lives.

"We don't have a medical cure for cabin fever but we are asking people for goodwill and determination over the next few weeks to help save lives and to help our health service.

"Rather than people just standing at their front door on a Thursday night, clapping in support of the NHS, people should think before leaving their house - 'Is this journey necessary? Do I really have to step my foot outside the front door?'

"My job as health minister is to keep the number of deaths here as low as possible but everyone has their part to play."

Mr Swann's advice comes after it was revealed that restrictions on movement to stop the spread of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland may not apply to day trippers from Northern Ireland.

• A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?

• AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise

• LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area

• MAPS AND CHARTS: Visual guide to the outbreak

• STRESS: How to look after your mental health

According to RTÉ News, Gardaí (Irish police) in the border region have been ordered not to arrest anyone from Northern Ireland for suspected breaches of the Covid-19 regulations.

It is thought this is due to a gap in government emergency legislation.

But the Department of Health in the country has insisted there is no anomaly with the regulations.

It accepts however that an issue could arise where someone from Northern Ireland was travelling to their temporary residence but said the department was always aware of that issue, and points out there is also movement restrictions in Northern Ireland.

Restrictions

People are being advised to only go out if they need to fetch food or medicine, to go to work if it is essential or to exercise.

When you leave your home, you must practise social distancing and keep at least 2m (6ft) away from other people to limit the spread of coronavirus.

In the Republic of Ireland, a 2km limit has been introduced to ensure people exercised locally, but First Minister Arlene Foster ruled out that sort of distance restriction here.

However, there had been confusion over whether people could drive to exercise and concerns about whether the police were misinterpreting the legislation, leading the Stormont executive to amend the lockdown laws on Friday.

On exercise, it says that a drive to a safe space or facility would be permitted under the regulations.

However, "taking a long drive to a beach or resort where numbers of people may gather is unlikely to be regarded as reasonable".

On Friday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland Police said officers had handed out 358 coronavirus-related penalty notices this month.

The fines cover a period between 30 March and 24 April, and the Belfast City area saw the highest number of penalties with 89.

In the same period, there were 570 community resolution notices, which can be issued to anyone 10 years or older.