THE Stormont Executive has unveiled its five stage plan to reduce the lockdown restrictions across the North of Ireland.
The current lockdown restrictions will continue until Thursday, May 28.
The first step in the plan will be for people who are unable to work from home to return to the workplace on a phased basis.
By step three, this expands to a return for office workers and onsite working.
The final stage will be to allow all workers to return “subject to mitigations”.
In terms of shops, in the first stage garden centres can reopen as “large outdoor based retail” can let customers through the doors.
By step two, “non-food retail can open”, albeit with limited numbers and social distancing measures in place.
The Executive’s document skips to stage four of its recovery plan when hairdressers, fitness studios and tattoo artists are among the businesses which can reopen, subject to mitigations.
In the final stage, restaurants, cafes and pubs can reopen “on a limited basis to start with”.
There is no imminent return to school for most pupils, however, the current policy of school provision for the children of key workers will be expanded, beginning in stage two of the Executive’s roadmap.
It is by stage four when “schools expand provision to accommodate all pupils on a part-time basis”.
This will involve a mix of in-school and remote learning.
The Education Minister Peter Weir said last week that schools will no to return to school for the majority of pupils before September.
On transport, as more people are encouraged to get back to work, the Executive’s document accepts there will be an increasing demand for public transport which has been operating at a limited capacity.
In stage two, the pathway says social distancing measures remain in place with “peak services” especially under pressure.
Stage four says home working and staggered work starting times would help in easing demand as the economy continues to restart.
In the final stage, public transport will operate “a full service”.
Throughout the plan, the Executive says it will encourage people to walk and cycle.
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