page_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
section_title: March 2020
hierarchical_section_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland / Timeline / March 2020
caption_attribution_description: English: Electronic Display Sign normally used for traffic management displays COVID19-related advice on an almost deserted Chichester Street in Belfast CIty Centre.
context_page_description: The COVID-19 pandemic reached Northern Ireland on 27 February 2020. According to the Department of Health, 560 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency reports 869 people have died. Northern Ireland has the lowest recorded coronavirus death rate in the United Kingdom and a lower rate than the Republic of Ireland. It is also carrying out more tests per capita than the other countries of the United Kingdom. According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the vast majority of deaths linked to COVID-19 were among over-75s and almost half were in care homes. It is believed the infection rate is higher in care homes than in the community, which is inflating the overall rate.
  As in the rest of the UK, all "non-essential" travel and contact with people outside one's home is restricted for the whole population, and almost all businesses, venues, facilities, amenities and places of worship are shut. Major events such as Saint Patrick's Day were cancelled. A lengthy lockdown is forecast to severely damage the economy and lead to a large rise in unemployment.
context_section_description: Cases continued to rise throughout early March with cases rising to seven by the end of the first week. On 9 March Belfast City Council voted to cancel the annual St Patrick's Day parade in the city. By the end of the second week the HSC started to advise people showing symptoms to isolate for seven days, cases had also jumped to 45 by 15 March. On St Patrick's Day, parades across all of Northern Ireland had been cancelled as cases reached 52.
  On 19 March, Northern Ireland recorded its first death from COVID-19, with cases reaching 77. Reacting to the news, First Minister Arlene Foster said "This is a sad day for Northern Ireland. Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the family and friends of the patient who has died. And we are immeasurably grateful to our health service staff who cared for this person. This is not unexpected news. We knew that this pandemic would inevitably cost precious lives. We cannot stop it. But it is incumbent on all of us to do whatever we can to slow its spread and shield those most vulnerable from the effects of this virus." On 22 March, a second person died from the coronavirus, with cases rising to 128.
  On 20 March, the UK Government announced measures to further tackle the spread of the virus which included closing bars, restaurants, gyms and many other social venues.
  Also on 20 March the UK Government announced a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, were it would offer grants to companies to pay 80% of a staff wage each month up to a total of £2,500 per a person, if companies kept staff on their payroll. The scheme would cover three months' wages and would be backdated to the start of March. Later in March the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) was announced. The scheme paid a grant worth 80% of self employed profits profits up to £2,500 each month, on companies who's trading profit was less than £50,000 in the 2018-19 financial year or an average less than £50,000 over the last three financial tax years for those who suffered a loss of income. Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) were tasked with contacting those who were eligible and the grant was taxable.
  Cases confirmed by 20 March were 86 in total.
  On 21 March, Northern Ireland suffered its largest increase in new cases to date with 22 new cases confirmed. On 22 March, a second person died from the virus.
  A third victim died from COVID-19 on 23 March, followed by two more deaths on 24 March. On 25 March, the largest increase in new cases to date was recorded as cases rose by 37 to 209, with 2 new deaths also being confirmed. Speaking at a press conference on 25 March, Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said he believes the actual figure of cases to be "many thousands" and testing would increase to approximately 1000 new tests everyday.
  On 26 March, a further 3 people died from the virus with 32 new confirmed cases. On 27 March, 34 new cases and 3 new deaths were confirmed, with leading GPs in Northern Ireland writing an open letter calling for a complete lockdown, stating "Please hear and act on our heartfelt plea and move to adopt a 'complete lockdown' as we have seen in other countries, at the earliest opportunity. Time is of the essence.". On 28 March, Northern Ireland experienced the highest rate of increased new cases yet with 49 new cases, and a further 2 deaths.
  On the evening of the 28 March the Northern Ireland Executive announced new stricter measures to combat the spread of the virus. Measures included:
  The ability to force businesses to shut and crack down on people who leave their homes without a "reasonable excuse".
  Penalties, ranging from fixed penalty notices to fines of up to £5,000, are being introduced as enforcement.
  Anyone who can work from home must work from home
  Employers must facilitate working from home where it is feasible
  No employer should compel an employee to come to work if it is feasible to work from home
  Every employer must take all reasonable steps to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of employees during the COVID-19 emergency, whether working
caption: Electronic display sign normally used for traffic management displays COVID-19-related advices on an almost deserted Chichester Street in Belfast City Centre, 24 March.
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