PHA urges people to stay home over Easter

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to stay at home over the Easter break, emphasising how important it is to save lives. The agency has thanked people for practising social distancing and following guidelines about only leaving their homes when necessary.

Dr Gerry Waldron, Head of Health Protection at the PHA, said: “Coronavirus is circulating in our community. People are dying. One of the best things we can do to slow its spread is to follow the advice to stay at home.

“At Easter, people often spend time with their wider families and go for day trips, but this year we are urging people to avoid this and remain at home. We appreciate how frustrating this is, particularly if you have been apart from parents, siblings or other family members for several weeks, or are experiencing ‘cabin fever’, but it is essential in the battle against this virus.

“If you do need to go out, for example to get food from the supermarket or take your daily exercise, remember to keep at least two metres apart from anyone other than members of your immediate household, and wash your hands thoroughly when you return home.

“I would also like to thank the public for having followed the guidelines to date. We are in unprecedented times and the steps we must take are having a major impact on our normal way of life, but the willingness of the community to work with us and take the advice has been very reassuring. The key is to stick with it – this will help protect our health service and save lives.”

Dr Waldron concluded: “We are at a vital time in tackling coronavirus – over Easter, we want to see people choosing to stay at home. Please don’t be tempted to go against the guidance when the community has been doing so much to fight this disease.”

Further information on COVID-19 is available at www.pha.site/coronavirus