THE Stormont Executive has now agreed further easing of restrictions imposed as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Moves agreed by ministers to take effect from next Monday, August 16, include:
The rule of six – the number of people allowed to sit at tables together in hospitality venues – will be scrapped (this will also apply to wedding celebrations and receptions)
The limit on numbers of people allowed to meet outdoors in private gardens will be removed
Further education and higher education and night classes will be able to return to full in-person learning.
So-called support bubbles will no longer exist
Conferences and exhibitions will be allowed to resume
It is understood there will be no change to the rules on social distancing or face coverings at this time.
Indoor premises and workplaces in the North of Ireland are still required to comply with a social distancing rule of at least 1m (3ft).
That rule has been lifted in other parts of the UK and many people in the Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector are keen to see it relaxed locally too.
Nightclubs also remain without a reopening date.
Also from Monday, fully-vaccinated people who are a close contact of a Covid case will no longer have to self-isolate.
They will still be advised to take a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Covid test on day two and eight of the process.
If someone tests positive, they must continue to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms of the disease.
While class bubbles will no longer be required from the start of term, post-primary students will still have to wear masks in class.
Deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill said the North was at the peak of the current Covid wave but that “we should expect to see cases starting to come down over the next week”.
She said the Executive had taken a “cautious approach”, which was “fully supported by public health advice”.
“I think what we’re doing is proportionate to the current level of cases,” she added.
“We’ll have a better sense of where we are in the first week of September – that’s when we revisit all the issues that have not been moved on today.”
First Minister Paul Givan said he wants to see most of the remaining Covid restrictions all removed from law before the end of September.
He added that personal responsibility is how we need to go forward with “the justification for regulations is diminishing”.
The Executive’s decision to relax self-isolation rules was welcomed by the business lobby group, Retail NI.
It said its members had reported “widespread staff shortages” due to workers getting ‘pinged’ by the StopCovidNI app.
“We welcome that the executive has listened to our concerns, as shops, the supply chain and our wider economy are currently experiencing widespread disruption,” said Retail NI’s chief executive Glyn Roberts.
“This move will provide relief to a significant number of our members who are on the verge of restricting opening hours and are running short on several product ranges.
“Many of these member stores provide food and other vital products to vulnerable and older members of our community, particularly in rural areas,” Mr Roberts added.
Tags: