Covid-19: Avoid household mixing on Mother’s Day, urges Mayor Tierney

While cases in the City and District have plateaued in recent weeks, the virus remains active in the community and Mayor Tierney expressed concern at the possible impact of households mixing indoors as a one off to celebrate Mother’s Day.

“This is a particularly challenging period for families who are fatigued from the impact of not being able to socially mix for months on end,” he said.

“It has been hard on everyone and I completely understand how people could be tempted to let their guard down and spend time in their families’ homes this weekend.

“As we saw at Christmas, the impact of different households mixing indoors can have a hugely detrimental impact on case numbers which, in turn, could pressurise our health service and leave the most vulnerable in our community exposed to the harmful effect of the virus.

“That is why I am appealing to people to give your mothers the gift of safety and protection by only meeting in line with the current restrictions from the Northern Ireland Executive.

“We are within touching distance of a return to some normality in the months ahead and we don’t want to be living under restrictions for any longer than we have to by seeing a spike in cases now.”