AQW 14412/17-22


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 10/02/2021
Answered On Date: 26/01/2022
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) for their assessment of the statement from the Chief Medical Officer that lockdown restrictions could last into next year; (ii) to detail the potential impacts on the remit of their Department of (a) a full lockdown; or (b) more minimal restrictions over this period; and (iii) for their assessment of the statement’s potential impact on vaccine take-up and lockdown rules-compliance.


Answer:
The Executive has a collective intention that no restrictions will remain in place any longer than they are deemed necessary.
The Executive’s Pathway out of Restrictions outlines the approach and steps that will be taken to continue to move out of restrictions and the adaptations required to reduce the risks to recovery and longer term resilience to prevent future risk from the pandemic.
Carrying out a step by step, gradual and sustainable approach to reopen society and the economy lowers the risk of going into another lockdown.
The success of our vaccination programme is one of the ways that will help us move out of this pandemic and offers hope that there are better days ahead. Currently over 80% of the population have received both vaccination doses and over 50% have received a booster vaccination.
Over the winter, the Department of Health has been taking an integrated approach to surge and winter planning. This has included managing pressures arising from COVID-19, as well as other unscheduled pressures and focusing on maximising delivery of elective care. This has been achieved through a regional approach to managing critical care, respiratory services and unscheduled pressures to make best use of available capacity.
A regional approach to managing critical care and respiratory services was effective during the severe COVID-19 surge last winter.
Surge and winter planning has been informed by modelling of the pandemic and other likely pressures, such as the winter flu.
The Executive continues to ask people to adhere to the restrictions and public health advice by making safer decisions for themselves and each other.