Derry coming to the end of its third lockdown
Hugging of loved ones and the resumption of international travel are expected to be discussed, the First Minister said.
Arlene Foster said ministers will discuss what has been taking place elsewhere in the UK.
The hospitality industry wants the reopening of its sector brought forward by a week to Monday, May 17.
Derry City and Strabane District Council is nearing the end of its third lockdown.
The council are went into a second lockdown last October after a huge surge in Coronavirus cases.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the North of Ireland was in a “really good place” and she hoped progress could be made.
She added that the North is winning against Covid and that if this continues, it is hoped further restrictions can be lifted to return to “some sense of normality”.
Asked when people will be able to hug again, Mrs Foster said ministers have noted what is happening elsewhere in the UK and “we’ll want to discuss that”.
“It’s something that we’re discussing today amongst ourselves,” she said on Wednesday.
“We know that there are a lot of people who have been waiting for that time, I know certainly I have in terms of my own mother, and I’m looking forward to be able to have those discussions.”
Mrs Foster also said international travel will be discussed.
People in England, Scotland and Wales will be allowed to meet in each other’s homes and enjoy indoor hospitality from Monday.
In the North of Ireland, indoor hospitality is due to reopen on the indicative date of Monday, May 24.
All retail, outdoor hospitality and self-contained tourist accommodation have already reopened.
Meanwhile, Mrs Foster and Ms O’Neill held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday to discuss the response to Covid-19 across the UK.
It is understood he raised the prospect of holding a Covid-19 recovery summit with the first and deputy first minister when they spoke.
There were also updated on the vaccination programme, the pace of change with lockdown restrictions and the government’s plan to hold an independent public inquiry into the pandemic next year.
Tags: