Timeline
February 2020
The HSC began testing for COVID-19 during February 2020, as of 19 February there were 35 completed tests all of which returned negative results. [9] On 27 February, the HSC confirmed that the first presumptive case had been discovered in Northern Ireland in a woman who had returned from Italy, the case was sent to the Public Health England reference laboratory where it was confirmed as Northern Ireland's first case on 29 February. [10] [11]
March 2020
Cases continued to rise throughout early March with cases rising to seven by the end of the first week. [12] On 9 March Belfast City Council voted to cancel the annual St Patrick's Day parade in the city. [13] By the end of the second week the HSC started to advise people showing symptoms to isolate for seven days, cases had also jumped to 45 by the 15th March. [14] On St Patrick's Day, parades across all of Northern Ireland had been cancelled as cases reached 52. [15]
On 19 March, Northern Ireland recorded its first death from COVID-19, with cases reaching 77. [16] [17] Reacting to the news, First Minister Arlene Foster said "This is a sad day for Northern Ireland. Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the family and friends of the patient who has died. And we are immeasurably grateful to our health service staff who cared for this person. This is not unexpected news. We knew that this pandemic would inevitably cost precious lives. We cannot stop it. But it is incumbent on all of us to do whatever we can to slow its spread and shield those most vulnerable from the effects of this virus." [18] On 22 March, a second person died from the coronavirus, with cases rising to 128. [19]
On 20 March, the UK Government announced measures to further tackle the spread of the virus which included closing bars, restaurants, gyms and many other social venues. [20] The government also announced measures to help struggling businesses including covering up to 80% of wages lost due to the pandemic. [21] Cases confirmed by 20 March were 86 in total. [22] On 21 March, Northern Ireland suffered its largest increase in new cases to date with 22 new cases confirmed. [23] On 22 March, a second person died from the virus. [24]
On 23 March, the government announced that new measures were to be introduced to increase social distancing, with wide-ranging restrictions made on freedom of movement, enforceable in law, [25] for a planned "lockdown" period intended to last for three weeks. [26]
The government directed people to stay at home throughout this period, with the only following exceptions: [27]
- essential purchases
- once-daily exercise, either alone or with members of their household
- medical needs
- providing care for others
- essential work travel where working from home is not possible
Many other non-essential activities, including all public gatherings and social events except funerals, are to be proscribed. [25]
A third victim died from COVID-19 on 23 March, followed by two more deaths on 24 March. [28] [29] On 25 March, the largest increase in new cases to date was recorded as cases rose by 37 to 209, with 2 new deaths also being confirmed. [30] Speaking at a press conference on 25 March, Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said he believes the actual figure of cases to be "many thousands" and testing would increase to approximately 1000 new tests everyday. [31]
On 26 March, a further 3 people died from the virus with 32 new confirmed cases. [32] On 27 March, 34 new cases and 3 new deaths were confirmed, with leading GPs in Northern Ireland writing an open letter calling for a complete lockdown, stating "Please hear and act on our heartfelt plea and move to adopt a 'complete lockdown' as we have seen in other countries, at the earliest opportunity. Time is of the essence.". [33] On 28 March, Northern Ireland experienced the highest rate of increased new cases yet with 49 new cases, and a further 2 deaths. [34]
On the evening of the 28 March the Northern Ireland Executive announced new stricter measures to combat the spread of the virus. Measures included:[ citation needed ]
- The ability to force businesses to shut and crack down on people who leave their homes without a "reasonable excuse".
- Penalties, ranging from fixed penalty notices to fines of up to £5,000, are being introduced as enforcement.
- Anyone who can work from home must work from home
- Employers must facilitate working from home where it is feasible
- No employer should compel an employee to come to work if it is feasible to work from home
- Every employer must take all reasonable steps to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of employees during the COVID-19 emergency, whether working from home or in the workplace
- Every employer must have particular regard to the safety of employees in the workplace and must put into effect the guidance on social distancing issued by the Department for the Economy
- Every employer has a legal duty to ensure, so far as it is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
- Where a business is failing to observe the Department for the Economy guidance and breaching the legal duty on health and safety, the statutory authorities will take robust action, which may include prosecution for criminal offences
- Where necessary, the Executive Office will also use its power of direction to close or restrict businesses that do not ensure the safety of their employees.
Commenting on the new measures, Arlene Foster said "We are asking the people of Northern Ireland to make fundamental changes to how they live their lives. But we are doing this to keep you safe, to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 infection so that the health service has the capacity to deal with those who need their help the most." Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill also commented "Each one of us has a personal responsibility to do everything we can to fight back against Covid-19 for the good of everyone across society. We will use every power we have to ensure people stay at home so that we save as many lives as we possibly can." [35] [36] [37]
On 29 March, new cases announced by the Public Health Agency were 86 and 6 new deaths, the highest for both in a single day to date. [38]
Following the announcement on 31 March that there were 53 new cases and 6 new deaths, the totals at the end of the month of March were 586 confirmed cases and 28 deaths. [39]
April 2020
On 1 April, a further 103 cases and 2 deaths were confirmed as Health Minister Robin Swann warned that 3000 people could die in the first wave of the pandemic. [40] On 2 April, 85 more cases and 6 more deaths were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed cases and deaths to 774 and 36 respectively. [41] On 3 April, the largest increase in deaths and cases to date was published by the Public Health Agency with 130 cases and 12 deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 904 and the number of deaths to 48. [42]
On 4 April, a further 94 new cases and 8 new deaths were announced, as Northern Ireland's first coronavirus testing centre for healthcare workers opened at the SSE Arena, Belfast. [43] Health Minister Robin Swann said the new testing facility in Belfast “will allay some of the concern and speculation we have had of late. I fully understand the frustration that we have not been able to scale up testing numbers more quickly. This is not down to a lack of will or action.There are significant challenges including laboratory and staffing capacity and the unprecedented levels of global demand for testing reagents and swabs.” [44]
It was reported that more than 33,000 people so far had claimed unemployment benefits since the lockdown began, ten times the normal rate. Economists forecast that a lengthy lockdown and disruption would lead to hundreds of thousands of job losses. [45]
On 5 April, an additional 91 cases and 7 deaths were reported, bringing the total number of cases and deaths to 1,089 and 63 respectively. [46]
On 6 April, the Orange Order announced that the annual 12th July celebrations were cancelled, as a further 69 cases and 7 deaths were confirmed. [47] A further 97 cases and 3 deaths were announced by the Public Health Agency on 7 April, as a second drive-through testing centre opened at an MOT centre in Belfast. [48] With Easter weekend approaching, on 8 April, the Police Service of Northern Ireland warned people against visiting local beauty spots, as the death toll increased to 78 with 5 more deaths and 84 new cases being reported. [49]
A further 4 deaths and 138 cases were confirmed on 9 April as experts predicted a deep recession in Northern Ireland following the crisis. [50] [51] Research by the Northern Ireland Assembly Library found that Northern Ireland has a lower coronavirus death rate per capita than the other countries of the United Kingdom, and a lower death rate than the Republic of Ireland. [5] It was also revealed that Northern Ireland has a higher coronavirus testing rate per capita than the other countries of the United Kingdom. [6]
On 10 April, a further 10 deaths and 112 cases were reported, bringing the totals to 92 deaths and 1,589 cases. [52]
On 11 April, 15 more deaths and 128 new cases were confirmed as Health Minister Robin Swann called on the Army for assistance in fighting the disease. [53] New cases increased by 89 to 1806, and deaths by 11 to 118 on 12 April. [54] On 15 April, 6 more people died of the virus and another 121 cases were confirmed, as lock-down measures were extended for another three weeks with Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill warning against complacency stating, "Our biggest danger in this period is complacency. The measures are showing positive results but if we relax our behaviour, we will be in danger." [55]
On 15 April, Arlene Foster, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, extended the period of lockdown in Northern Ireland to 9 May, as 121 new cases and 6 new deaths were confirmed. [56] Modelling by the Department of Health indicated that Northern Ireland had reached the peak of its outbreak, and that the health service in Northern Ireland could now cope with the expected peak in cases. Swann said that the peak "may now, potentially, be less severe than we had feared". [57]
On 20 April, the Department of Health launched a new website that provides daily statistic updates, such as information on hospital admissions and discharges, bed occupancy and a breakdown of case and death numbers by age and gender. Speaking about the launch, Health Minister Robin Swann said, "It is vitally important to keep the public well informed. That includes the publication of statistics, as well as the all-important advice on how we keep ourselves and are loved ones safe." [58] The new website also confirmed that 2,307 COVID-19 patients had been discharged from hospital by 20 April. [59]
On 21 April, Northern Ireland's chief scientific advisor said the rising curve of new cases had flattened in Northern Ireland, and evidence suggests Northern Ireland had passed the peak of its outbreak. He said that the number of cases could fall to a low level by mid-May if social distancing rules are obeyed until then. [8]
On 23 April, the First Minister, Arlene Foster, said Northern Ireland may be able to ease its lockdown sooner than other parts of the UK. She said that easing restrictions will depend when public health criteria are met, rather than on a timetable. The Health Minister said "it's important we take our scientific guidance based on the science that is applicable to Northern Ireland". [60]
As the death toll increased to 338 on 29 April, Health Minister Robin Swann committed to maximum transparency with regards to statistics regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, stating “I want to continue seeing the maximum possible transparency on this issue. I want to explore with NISRA if it is possible for it to report more frequently than once a week on deaths associated with Covid-19 across hospitals and the community. This is not straightforward and I want to thank all those who are working hard in this area to provide up to date and reliable statistics.” [61]
Following the announcement on 30 April that there were 73 new cases and 9 new deaths, the totals at the end of the month of April were 3536 confirmed cases and 347 deaths. [62]
On 30th April, the UK Statistics Authority wrote to the Permanent Secretary, Richard Pengelly stating there were gaps in the data and daily time series have been lost since the statistics began to be released through DoH news releases. It was further reported that daily surveillance statistics should be released in a transparent, easily accessible and orderly way. [63]
May 2020
On 1 May, 18 more deaths from COVID-19 were announced, however, just 4 were from the previous 24 hours. NISRA recorded 393 deaths from COVID-19 by 24th April compared to 299 deaths recorded by Department of Health. [64]
On 2 May, a further 78 cases and 5 deaths were reported, bringing the totals to 3,767 cases and 381 deaths.
