Derry has been under new lockown restrictions since October 5
The four week circuit breaker ends at midnight tonight, Thursday, November 12.
Derry has been in lockdown since October 5.
But businesses are still in the dark as to whether they can pull up the shutters on their premises on Friday.
And with fresh stock to order and staff to be called in, some hospitality traders say it’s far too late for them to bother reopening this weekend.
They want the Executive to make a decision either way.
The Executive has rejected attempts to extend the lockdown for either one work or two weeks.
They will this afternoon consider a compromise paper put forward by Justice Minister Naomi Long.
Many business people say they will respect whatever answer they get, but are not happy the “constant uncertainty” is making a difficult time worse.
Derry cafe owner Declan Moore has been critical of the Executive, saying: “I don’t see why they’re dithering – I think it’s bizarre.
“It really seems like there’s a bit of a political football getting kicked around.”
Paddy Burns, a barber from Derry, says he had clients ringing to book an appointment but he cannot give them an answer.
“Even if they say we will close us for another fortnight, we would’ve accepted that,” he says.
“I have got to the end of my tether and am dealing with a lot of anxiety.”
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