THE North of Ireland’s new six-week lockdown is “in large part” the “sustained lockdown” of March, Health Minister Robin Swann has said.
The new restrictions will begin on Boxing Day, December 26, with non-essential shops closing from the end of trading on Christmas Eve.
Derry and Strabane had been in lockdown since October 5 and non-essential businesses within the council boundary only reopened again last Friday, December 11 after over two months in lockdown.
The reproduction number is currently 1 to 1.2 amid fears it could rise to between 1.4 and 1.8 over Christmas.
Mr Swann said the measures were being brought in “with a heavy heart”.
He said he was “very mindful” of the effect the last year has had on lives and livelihoods.
“We are in, large part, returning to the sustained lockdown introduced in March,” he said.
“Once again, a heavy responsibility will rest on all of us to remain at home as much as possible over the course of the six-week period.”
Close-contact services, such as hair salons, will have to shut and pubs, cafes and restaurants will be restricted to takeaway services.
The first week of the lockdown, running until Saturday, January 2, will see even tighter measures with essential shops having to close each day by 8 pm.
No sporting events will be permitted at all – even at elite level – with people being urged only to leave their home for essential reasons.
Business organisations have warned it could “sound the death knell” for many businesses.
The restrictions for the six-week period include:
Closure of hospitality and non-essential retail with a stricter demarcation between essential and non-essential retail than that deployed during the recent circuit breaker.
Click and collect retail will not be permitted, and homeware will not be categorised as essential retail.
Off sales (including from bars) will be permitted from 8 am on Monday to Saturday, and from 10 am on Sunday, until 8 pm on any day.
Hospitality businesses will only be allowed to offer takeaway and delivery food.
Closure of close-contact businesses
Places of worship can remain open under strict conditions
MOT centres are expected to stay open
Clarification is to be given on where vehicles can be washed ahead of MOT
Tradespeople are expected to be allowed into homes for essential maintenance
Child care bubbles will continue
Formal shielding will not resume, but “stronger advice” will be issued
In addition, there will be a one-week period of additional restrictions from December 26 to January 2.
Between 8 pm and 6 am during this period:
All businesses must close between these hours
No indoor or outdoor gatherings of any kind will be permitted after 8 pm and before 6 am, including at sporting venues
Outdoor exercise will be permitted only with members of your own household
No household mixing will be permitted in private gardens or indoors in any setting between these times, except for emergencies or the provision of health or care services or where households have chosen to form a Christmas bubble for a period of time between 23 to 27 December with provision for travel a day either side when absolutely necessary
Mr Swann added that the “short, sharp interventions” introduced in the autumn had not worked, so the Executive was returning to what had worked earlier in the year.
He said that about one third of care homes had now received the first of the vaccinations.
“That start of fighting back using the vaccines we have that will be rolling into next year is really progressing for us.”
He said there was no intention to extend the “advanced restrictions” of the first week of the lockdown beyond that.
Mr Swann added that discussions are taking place between the health and education departments over what “additional factors” can be put in place in schools, amid speculation as to when schools can return.
In its modelling, the Department of Health says: “We anticipate that case numbers will continue to rise as we approach Christmas, with a more rapid increase as we near the holiday period.
“There is likely to be a decrease over the holiday period as a result of reduced testing, but this will not be indicative of reduced community transmission.
“Hospital admissions will remain stable or increase slightly until shortly before Christmas when they will begin to rise again.”
On Thursday, a further 12 Covid-linked deaths were recorded in the North of Ireland and there was a further 656 cases of the virus.
One of those deaths was recorded in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
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