LOCKDOWN: NI Executive agrees to relax some restrictions

The Stormont Executive has agreed to lift a wide range of lockdown restrictions today (Thursday).

Speaking in the Assembly the First Minister and Deputy First Ministers confirmed the following relaxation will go ahead:

April 23

• Resumption of driving instruction and theory tests

• Driving testing can resume

• Re-opening of close contact services including training

• Re-opening of outdoor visitor attractions including outdoor activity centres

• Resumption of Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning (EATL) on an indoor and outdoor basis in gatherings of up to 30 people;

• Outdoor sport organised by a club, individual or individuals affiliated will be extended to include squad training;

• Competitive outdoor sport organised by a club, individual or individuals affiliated, with participant numbers not exceeding 100 and no spectators permitted can return and

• Static band practice/rehearsal will be permitted in agreed outdoor locations.

April 30

• Increase the numbers permitted to gather in Domestic Setting Outdoors – to 15 people from no more than 3 households;

• Reopen all of retail;

• Reopen and permit overnight stays in self-contained tourist accommodation for one household only;

• Reopen unlicensed premises, outdoors only with a maximum of 6 people from 2 households per table and contact details recorded;

• Reopen licensed premises, including social clubs, outdoors only, limited to 6 people from no more than 2 households and contact details recorded;

• Remove the curfew on takeaways;

• Remove the curfew on off licences; and

• Permit individual activities in gyms, swimming pools and other large venues – including with a carer and to allow 1-2-1 training/coaching with social distancing.

May 24 (indicative date)

• Reopening unlicensed and licensed premises indoors with mitigations;

• Reopening the remainder of Tourist accommodation;

• Allowing visits indoors in domestic settings;

• Reopening indoor visitor attractions; and

• Resume indoor group exercise and training in numbers limited to suit the venue.

Speaking in the Assembly today the First Minister Arlene Foster said: “This is a landmark day for Northern Ireland as we step firmly and with confidence on our pathway to recovery.

“I am pleased and proud that through our collective efforts we have reached a point where we have established a good level of control over the virus.

“We are now entering brighter and better times.

“This balanced package of relaxations will restore those familiar aspects of everyday life that have been missed dearly.

“I urge everyone to stay with us and keep following the health advice so that we can continue with our plans to more fully open up our society over coming weeks.”

The Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "Today, the light at the end of the tunnel has just got a little bit brighter.

"This is a day of positive progress. We have agreed a significant package of easements which will make a fundamental difference to people's lives and wellbeing.

"The restrictions have been a necessary response to the pandemic, to supress the virus and save lives.

"But they have taken their toll on people right across our society. I'm delighted that we are now in a position to move forward, thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of the public and the success of our vaccination programme.

"We can all take comfort from this progress and look forward to doing the things that are important to us while keeping ourselves and others as safe as possible.''

Ms O'Neill also told the Assembly that hospitality businesses and gyms would continue to receive Covid support payments from the Executive until they were able to fully reopen and operate properly.

Initially, it was understood the easing of only a small number of restrictions would be on the table for discussion.

However, given the success rate of the vaccination programme and positive comments yesterday from both Health Minister, Robin Swann, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride, it was agreed that more indicative dates could be given for other businesses.

NI took some further gradual steps out of lockdown on Monday.

The remainder of post-primary students, years eight to 11, returned to school, while a limited number of outdoor-focused retail outlets, such as garden centres and car dealerships, reopened.

The “stay-at-home'' messaging was also replaced with "stay local'' advice.

Other relaxations on Monday saw the number of people who can meet outdoors in a garden, including children, increase from six to 10.

Click-and-collect services for non-essential retail also resumed.

Outdoor sports training was allowed for recognised clubs, in groups of up to 15, provided all indoor facilities except toilets remain closed.

The number of people allowed to attend marriage and civil partnership ceremonies also increased, at a level informed by a risk assessment for the venue.

Read More:

LOCKDOWN: What's opening in NI and when?

NI businesses to be given indicative dates as ministers review lockdown restrictions

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