No live music in North before July 5
The Stormont Executive met this afternoon to look at a number of possible relaxations.
These included:
allowing 10 people from two households to meet inside a home;
the return of live music at venues that sell food or drink;
and close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauty salons, being allowed to operate without appointments.
But it’s understood the Executive will review the situation on July 1 with a view to making changes on July 5.
It comes as the Department of Health reported a further 179 new cases of Coronavirus in the past 24 hours but no further deaths.
Infection rates in the Derry City and Strabane Council area have also shot up to 135.4 cases per 100,000.
Hospitality Ulster had urged ministers to put a plan in place to follow through on Executive commitments that “that would allow our pubs, music venues and musicians to begin earning a living again”.
“The value of live music to the hospitality industry cannot be underestimated,” said Chief Executive Colin Neill.
“This current episode of political unrest is hugely unsettling for the sector.
“We really are only half open, with restrictions still in place across the sector including live music, the cap on guests per table and social distancing limiting business sustainability.”
