Covid-19: No change to test and trace rules in NI

Robin Swann said his department will consider the changes made in England and its implications for Northern Ireland

No changes have been made to test and trace regulations in Northern Ireland, the health minister has said.

From Thursday, people with a positive Covid-19 test in England no longer legally need to self-isolate and routine tracing will end.

Robin Swann said the test and trace programme in Northern Ireland will remain under review.

But his department would "carefully consider" England's plans and their implications for Northern Ireland.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his "living with Covid" plan on Monday.

It will see all Covid restrictions ending in England on Thursday, including the requirement to self-isolate.

Free mass testing will also stop from 1 April.

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Mr Swann said any policy changes in Northern Ireland will be informed by the latest "clinical and scientific advice and consideration of the Covid situation".

"Our key priorities for testing include ensuring that it is prioritised for those who need it most," he added.

"It is also imperative that we have appropriate contingency planning in place, with flexible testing capability which can be rapidly deployed to respond to any future variants or seasonal surges."

Dr Frances O'Hagan, from the British Medical Association NI, said she does not believe it is the time to drop testing in Northern Ireland.

"There probably will come a time that we will be at that stage," Dr O'Hagan said.

"But until we know what's happening with the variants, until we see the case numbers drop away down, it's not time yet to drop the need for self-isolation.

"Because we need to protect our vulnerable, our elderly and also our health care staff."

Dr Frances O'Hagan said it was not yet time to drop testing in Northern Ireland

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Earlier, Stormont ministers held talks with the UK government about future funding to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Swann and Finance Minister Conor Murphy spoke to UK Minister Michael Gove.

"Ministers discussed outline plans to deal with future phases of the pandemic and Northern Ireland requirements," said a Department of Health spokesperson.

At the weekend, ministers from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales wrote a joint letter to Mr Gove expressing fears that funding for testing was about to be cut.

They wrote: "The pandemic is not over yet and Covid continues to represent a significant threat.

"We must be fully prepared for future waves and we must all be assured that the resources that remain in place, or that could be stood up at short notice, are sufficient."

Covid-19 tests have been available for free during the pandemic

The letter was signed by Northern Ireland's Health Minister Robin Swann, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford.

The SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, said the proposals to bring an end to free Covid-19 testing were an "unconscionable betrayal" of all those who had followed public health advice during the pandemic.

Mr Eastwood said it would mean adding to pressure for people already struggling with cost of living increases if they had to start paying for Covid testing.

On Monday, four more Covid-19-related deaths were recorded along with 2,235 positive cases.