THE Stormont Executive has agreed a further easing of lockdown restrictions ascross the North of Ireland.
Earlier today, Ministers agree that all remaning primary school pupils will return to the class from next Monday, March 22.
They have also agreed that students in years 12-14 would return to face-to-face teaching from next Monday as well.
A number of other measures have been agreed from Thursday, April 1, including:
a. Allowing six people from two households to meet in a private garden
b. Outdoor gatherings in a public space allow 10 people from two households, to allow some sporting activity such as golf
c. Click-and-collect for garden centres and plant nurseries
A number further measures have been agreed from Monday, April 12:
a. Increasing the numbers who can meet outdoors in a garden from six to 10 (including children) from two households;
b. Removal of the ‘stay at home’ provision in the legislation; moving to a stay local and work from home message.
c. Allow contactless ‘click and collect’ for all non-essential retail – subject to the overall health position at that time, and DfE evaluation of the limited 8 March re-opening of non-essential ‘click and collect’;
d. Allow outdoor sports training to resume by sports clubs affiliated with recognised sports Governing Bodies, in small groups of up to 15 people but with all indoor spaces closed except essential toilet facilities.
But no date has been given to the re-opeing of hairdressers, barbers, pubs and restaurants to the public.
Arlene Foster said: “Covid-19 is still with us in our community,” before outlining that today there are “176 Covid in-patients in our hospitals,” 18 people in ICU with Covid and that there has been one further death.
While the numbers are better, the first minister stresses “that caution is important”.
“We have seen how numbers can rise rapidly and we do not want to go back there,” she says.
The first minister refers to the Executive’s Pathway out of Restrictions document which was published on March 2.
Mrs Foster says the documents “outlined our rationale,” which she adds is “cautious but optimistic”.
“Our commitment has always been that we will not leave restrictions in place for a day longer than is needed,” Arlene Foster tells MLAs.
She talks about the first anniversary of the initial lockdown, which was enforced in March 2020, adding “we have been in this current lockdown for around 80 days”.
“That is a long time and a big ask, and we have been so grateful to everyone who has made a personal contribution to the improvement in the Covid situation,” says the first minister.
“We want to give you hope and we have discussed today a number of small steps which we hope will be welcome,” added Mrs Foster.
The Executive has agreed to increase the provision for elite sports from 25 March “to allow a number of new competitions to begin”, said the first minister.
Arlene Foster said this is a “minor adjustment to the current restrictions” which “will allow two World Cup qualifications matches scheduled for 25 March and 31 March to take place as well as a friendly match between NI and the USA on March 28”.
While the games will be played, no spectators will be permitted at any sporting event, said Mrs Foster.
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