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Coronavirus: NI 'school closures will last for at least 16 weeks' Coronavirus: NI 'school closures will last for at least 16 weeks'
(32 minutes later)
When schools shut in Northern Ireland over coronavirus it will be for at least 16 weeks, Arlene Foster has said.When schools shut in Northern Ireland over coronavirus it will be for at least 16 weeks, Arlene Foster has said.
The first minister was speaking after a meeting between senior ministers from the NI Executive and Irish government.The first minister was speaking after a meeting between senior ministers from the NI Executive and Irish government.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) has confirmed five new cases, bringing the total number in Northern Ireland to 34. Five new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in NI while a second person has died in the Republic of Ireland.
It comes after NI's first community transmission cases were confirmed on Friday. There have been 129 confirmed cases in the Republic of Ireland while coronavirus deaths have doubled in 24 hours in the UK.
There have been 90 confirmed cases in the Republic of Ireland while coronavirus deaths have doubled in 24 hours in the UK. The first and deputy first ministers met counterparts include Tasoieach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar in Armagh on Saturday in a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council.
The United States has announced a ban on travel from the UK and Ireland will begin at 00:00 Eastern time on Monday (05:00 GMT on Tuesday). Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill were both still split over the issue of school closures.
The PHA has repeated advice for people to stay at home and self-isolate if they have mild symptoms. Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill repeated her call for them to be shut immediately, in line with the Republic of Ireland.
Testing is now being "principally provided for patients requiring hospital treatment and those with particularly medical conditions".
It added that healthcare workers who have been in contact with symptomatic or confirmed cases will also require testing.
Meanwhile, a school in County Armagh has said it will close its doors this week over coronavirus.Meanwhile, a school in County Armagh has said it will close its doors this week over coronavirus.
Lurgan Model Primary School has said it was already due to be shut on Monday and Tuesday due to St Patrick''s Day and will bring planned closures due for May forward to this week.Lurgan Model Primary School has said it was already due to be shut on Monday and Tuesday due to St Patrick''s Day and will bring planned closures due for May forward to this week.
It is the first school in Northern Ireland to close voluntarily over the outbreak.It is the first school in Northern Ireland to close voluntarily over the outbreak.
In a post on social media, the school, which plans to reopen on Monday, 23 March, said it was not an easy decision and that it "will monitor the situation during the course of this incoming week".In a post on social media, the school, which plans to reopen on Monday, 23 March, said it was not an easy decision and that it "will monitor the situation during the course of this incoming week".
Ministers still split over schools Ministers still divided over schools
Leaders from the NI Executive and Irish government met in Armagh on Saturday as part of the North South Ministerial Council, with the first and deputy first minister both still split over the issue of school closures. Speaking after the meeting in Armagh, Mrs Foster said that schools will close "when we are advised on the medical evidence".
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill repeated her call for them to be shut immediately, in line with the Republic of Ireland.
Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Foster said that schools will close "when we are advised on the medical evidence".
"Children will be at home for quite a considerable period of time, given that when we do close the schools they will be closed for at least 16 weeks."Children will be at home for quite a considerable period of time, given that when we do close the schools they will be closed for at least 16 weeks.
"Then of course you are into the summer period, so they will be off school for a very long time.""Then of course you are into the summer period, so they will be off school for a very long time."
Ms O'Neill said all parties in the executive agreed schools would have to close but it was a matter of timing.Ms O'Neill said all parties in the executive agreed schools would have to close but it was a matter of timing.
She said: "In my opinion schools should close now. I think we need to be consistent across this islandShe said: "In my opinion schools should close now. I think we need to be consistent across this island
"I think the fact that you can have two schools a mile apart and one school's open and one school's closed that's a very confusing picture and a very confusing message for the public.""I think the fact that you can have two schools a mile apart and one school's open and one school's closed that's a very confusing picture and a very confusing message for the public."
Ms O'Neill first called for schools to close immediately on Friday, a day after she, along with First Minister Arlene Foster, said the executive did not believe the situation had reached that stage.Ms O'Neill first called for schools to close immediately on Friday, a day after she, along with First Minister Arlene Foster, said the executive did not believe the situation had reached that stage.
On Saturday, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also called for schools to close, after Archibishop Eamon Martin, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, wrote to NI's education minister to ask him to consider closures.On Saturday, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also called for schools to close, after Archibishop Eamon Martin, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, wrote to NI's education minister to ask him to consider closures.
Taoiseach explains closures short noticeTaoiseach explains closures short notice
However, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said the main differences between the two governments was over timing.However, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said the main differences between the two governments was over timing.
He said the Northern Ireland Executive and Irish government shared the same objective in slowing the advance of coronavirus but it was inevitable there would be differences in how they approached it.He said the Northern Ireland Executive and Irish government shared the same objective in slowing the advance of coronavirus but it was inevitable there would be differences in how they approached it.
He added: "But the differences that exist are mostly around timing.He added: "But the differences that exist are mostly around timing.
"What there isn't any difference about is our common objective, which is to slow down this virus in its tracks and push it back as much as possible and limit the harm to human health and human life.""What there isn't any difference about is our common objective, which is to slow down this virus in its tracks and push it back as much as possible and limit the harm to human health and human life."
Mrs Foster said both governments had "very coherent messages".Mrs Foster said both governments had "very coherent messages".
Mr Varadkar also explained that the short notice of Irish school closures given to counterparts in Northern Ireland and the UK was "not how we intended it to happen".Mr Varadkar also explained that the short notice of Irish school closures given to counterparts in Northern Ireland and the UK was "not how we intended it to happen".
"I absolutely guarantee you I did not intend to make that announcement or speak to Irish people on the steps of Blair House in Washington DC," he said."I absolutely guarantee you I did not intend to make that announcement or speak to Irish people on the steps of Blair House in Washington DC," he said.
"We had a plan in place to move to delay phase. We had to bring that forward almost overnight.""We had a plan in place to move to delay phase. We had to bring that forward almost overnight."
He added that Irish officials gave "as many people a heads up as we could, including authorities here in Northern Ireland" but it was also "important that the Irish people should hear the news first from me and from the government".He added that Irish officials gave "as many people a heads up as we could, including authorities here in Northern Ireland" but it was also "important that the Irish people should hear the news first from me and from the government".
"That's why the notice that we gave people here and elsewhere was so short but there was no perfect way of doing this unfortunately and I appreciate the understanding of the first minister and deputy first minister," he added."That's why the notice that we gave people here and elsewhere was so short but there was no perfect way of doing this unfortunately and I appreciate the understanding of the first minister and deputy first minister," he added.
Health Minister Robin Swann, Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Coveney and Irish Health Minister Simon Harris also attended the meeting.Health Minister Robin Swann, Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Coveney and Irish Health Minister Simon Harris also attended the meeting.
The council was established under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland.The council was established under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland.
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald - who was not at the meeting - said the UK's response to coronavirus "should be rejected" and is "totally unacceptable in the north of Ireland".Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald - who was not at the meeting - said the UK's response to coronavirus "should be rejected" and is "totally unacceptable in the north of Ireland".
In other developments on Saturday:In other developments on Saturday: