AQW 4563/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Health

To ask the Minister of Health what has been learned about the behaviour of Coronavirus in Northern Ireland from the re-introduction of contact tracing in April 2020.

Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 5 June 2020

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
Tabled
5 June 2020
Answer due by
22 June 2020
Answered
8 September 202095 days after tabling
Department
Department of Health
Priority question
No

Answer

As far as it has been possible to ascertain, the behaviour of the virus in NI is similar to that which has been the case globally. There is evidence of person to person transmission and there is a risk of transmission to other household members when one member acquires the infection.

The international evidence suggests that maintaining physical distance, frequent hand washing, minimising touching of potentially infected surfaces, good ventilation and early isolation of potentially infected cases and their close contacts can reduce transmission.

Further evidence may emerge in due course.

Official sources