Speaking today they said, “Numbers of people
hospitalised through Covid-19 have been increasing over recent days, and
this will have an impact on other health services. Due to these
pressures, there will be a downturn in elective care in the Belfast
Trust from Monday. There has also been a call put
out to off-duty nursing staff to work this evening because of pressures
at the Royal and Mater hospitals.
Across the UK there has been an increase in
the numbers of younger people contracting Covid-19. Whilst we have hit
another significant milestone locally with over 1 million people now
fully vaccinated, we lag behind other areas of the UK in terms of our
younger population.
In Scotland around 30% of under 30s are not
yet vaccinated whilst in England that figure rises to 34%. In Northern
Ireland however that figure rises to just over 42%. Vaccination is not
just about protecting yourself but is also vital to protect our NHS and
to safeguard the relaxations we have been able to introduce.
The vaccine is not just safe but is highly effective in reducing the impact of Covid infections. It is therefore key to fully reaching the goal of beating Covid-19. Young people have been hugely affected by the impact of Covid restrictions but can now play a significant role in moving forward out of the pandemic. It is vital that everyone who is eligible for vaccination takes up that offer.”
