Gyms can reopen to the public next month
At this afternoon’s Stormont briefing, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the level of community transmission, the R rate, is between 0.06 and 0.09.
She adds that this is “as low as it will reach in the absence of a vaccine”.
“We promised we wouldn’t keep things in place for any longer than necessary,” she says.
The new roadmap will now allow those businesses who felt they had been left in the dark time to plan for their reopening.
Here are some of the dates laid out:
Betting shops – Friday, July 3
Tattoo parlours, holistic therapies and reflexology – Monday, July 6
Indoor gyms and outdoor playgrounds – Friday, July 10
Libraries – Thursday, July 16
Competitive sport resumption – Friday, July 17
Seated venues like Bingo halls/Arcades – Wednesday, July 29
Indoor sports courts and skating rinks from Friday, August 7
Socially-distanced indoor spectators can return to sporting events from Friday, August 28;
Leisure centres and soft play areas – Friday, August 7
Open air museums from late-August.
Michelle O’Neill says the executive has spoken to church leaders, sporting organisations and business leaders.
She confirms that places of worship can open for services from 29 June.
“We will say more about weddings and funerals from Monday,” she adds.
She says that to consider reducing the two-metre distance rule would depend on “whether it is indoors or outdoors, ventilation and if there are face coverings”.
She’s also reminding people they still must be cautious.
As regards face coverings she tells the briefing that “we strongly recommend using them where you can”.
However, as to whether they will be compulsory or not the executive will come back to that on Monday.
