Stormont ministers have yet to announce a decision on whether to extend coronavirus restrictions, less than 48 hours before the current laws expire.
Talks ended in the early hours of Wednesday without the Executive reaching agreement.
The Executive will reconvene today at 12.30 pm.
But the dithering by the Stormont Executive has left the hospitality and beauty sectors in limbo on when they can or cannot reopen to the public.
Many in the hospitality sector have already taken the decision not to reopen this Friday because of difficulties with the supply chain to their premises.
Derry has been in lockdown since October 5 and efforts by the people over the past five weeks has driven down the virus across the council area.
The DUP had blocked a proposal from the health minister to keep all restrictions in place for two more weeks.
Ministers have, instead, been debating a partial reopening of some sectors.
The current restrictions expire at midnight on Thursday.
Stormont’s executive ministers are set to meet again at 12:30 GMT on Wednesday.
The deputy first minister tweeted that it was “important to follow the medical advice and get this right”.
An alternative paper aimed at reaching a compromise between the political parties was brought to the executive by DUP Economy Minister Diane Dodds on Tuesday evening.
It suggests close-contact services such as hair and beauty salons can reopen on Friday, by appointment.
It also proposes allowing unlicensed premises such as cafes and coffee shops to reopen on Friday, but licensed premises would remain closed until 27 November.
It is also understood that a “safely open group” could be established if ministers agree the plans, that would cover hospitality.
The minister has previously said she did not want the restrictions to be extended, as it could further damage the economy.
It is understood she still holds this view, but recognises that the executive must agree a “general consensus”.
However, it is understood the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride, warned ministers that any relaxation of restrictions would cause excess deaths.
With some parties concerned by that, no further progress was made on the new plans.
Some businesses have said even if they were to be given the green light to reopen this weekend, they have not received enough notice to prepare staff and supply chains.
Hospitality Ulster said financial support must be extended to the sector “immediately” and that the executive must work with it to reopen the industry as soon as possible.
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