Hotels and pubs to open on July 3 in huge stride out of lockdown
STORMONT’S leaders have vowed they will not play with people’s lives as a raft of restrictions were lifted yesterday.
Key parts of the hospitality industry will reopen at the start of July, it was confirmed, as the region took a major stride out of lockdown.
The easing of the regulations came as First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill revealed that the ‘bubble’ concept can be extended to two households of any size in the coming weeks.
Speaking at yesterday’s daily Covid-19 briefing, Mrs Foster confirmed that pubs, restaurants and hotels can reopen on July 3, while caravan parks, camping sites and self-catering tourist accommodation can open on June 26.
Indoor pubs and bars opening on July 3 will have to primarily function as restaurants and offer substantial meals with table service.
The further lifting of lockdown came as the Department of Health again announced no new deaths due to coronavirus in Northern Ireland. It was a similar story in the Republic of Ireland, which also recorded no further deaths.
Speaking yesterday, Mrs Foster welcomed the relaxations of the lockdown measures but warned that the virus was still present in the community.
“As we take more steps to move out of lockdown, it is vital that we remember that Covid-19 has not been beaten and will not be beaten for some time,” she said. “In this climate of caution and vigilance, Executive decisions must be proportionate and guided by the scientific and medical advice, with the prevalence of the virus kept under constant and careful review.
“While our health service has weathered the initial storm and we are in a much better place today, we should never forget that less than 10 weeks ago, in early April, we had 345 inpatients with Covid-19 and 57 patients in intensive care unit beds.
“Some countries have seen spikes in Covid cases since emerging from lockdown so we cannot afford to be complacent.”
Ms O’neill referenced “stark” modelling data from the Department
of Health that indicated a slight rise in the transmission rate in the region could prompt a second wave, with 800 people needing intensive care treatment.
“You can see very clearly that even with a small degree of virus spread that we could be sitting with a second wave that’s actually even more devastating than what this first wave is, so that’s a consideration that we have to continually make in all of this,” she said.
“Our number one priority is saving lives and we’re certainly not prepared to play fast and loose with people’s lives.
“That’s why we’ll have to be cautious and that’s why we have to be incremental.”
Last week the bubble concept was introduced in Northern Ireland to allow people living alone to enter one other household to help battle loneliness and mental health issues.
Mrs Foster and Ms O’neill both stated yesterday that the Executive plans to extend the concept to allow two full households — of any size — to join together. While they did not give a date, Mrs Foster explained that an announcement would be made in a matter of weeks.
Ms O’neill said: “I am pleased today that we’re able to signal our intention to continue with that phased approach to the relaxation of restrictions on social contact.
“We propose that in the next number of weeks, two households of any size will be able to form an exclusive bubble with each other.
“Our ability to move to this will depend on the assessment of risk at that time but we hope that this will give people something to look forward to after such a long time without close contact, which we know has been very difficult for many people.”
Ms O’neill also said the Executive discusses reducing social distancing restrictions from two metres to one metre at “every single meeting”.
She added: “We’re continually keeping this issue under review and we have to come at this in a balanced way so we’re trying to measure the risk and see how far we can move. We’re not at the point yet where we can move but we certainly have committed that we will continue to keep this issue under review.”
Mrs Foster revealed that the Executive has looked at how the reduction is social distancing has worked in other countries, such as France and Germany.
“I think it is important that we continue to engage with the hospitality industry,” she said. “I know the Economy Minister (Diane Dodds) is working with the industry and the guidelines are in place for safe opening.
“Undoubtedly part of that will be a discussion around social dis