Salons and shops may get dates to open next week
FIRST Minister Arlene Foster hopes there could be dates published next week for the reopening of hairdressers, beauticians and non-essential retail.
The DUP leader said it was important to give certainty to people, and that timelines for close-contact services could be published at the Executive meeting on April 15.
Mrs Foster also acknowledged that the number of daily Covid-19 cases was continuing to fall.
“I hope we will be able to give dates in relation to those issues when we next go to the Executive to look at these issues,” she said.
“I think that what you will see coming out of the next Executive (meeting) are some timelines in relation to non-essential retail and close-contact services.”
THE Northern Ireland Executive hopes to publish dates for the reopening of hairdressers, beauticians and non-essential retail when it meets next week.
Arlene Foster said it is important to give certainty to people, and that a timeline to reopen close contact services could be published at the Executive meeting on April 15. A number of lockdown restrictions will be eased from April 12, including reopening of garden centres and car washes.
Contactless click-and-collect for all non-essential retail will also resume.
Mrs Foster said on Tuesday that the number of daily Covid-19 cases continues to fall. “As you’ve seen from our colleagues in Westminster they have been moving ahead in relation to the relaxation of the Covid regulations,” the DUP leader added.
“It’s very important that we also continue to relax the Covid regulations because the statistics are very good again today. If you look at the statistics, the numbers of positive cases have again shown to be very small, which of course is welcome.
“My colleague, Diane Dodds (Minister for the Economy), has put papers in in relation to the lifting of restrictions in terms of close contact services, hairdressers and beauticians and non-essential retail, which of course is very important as well.
“I do hope that we will be able to give dates in relation to those issues when we next go to the Executive to look at these issues.
“It is important that we do give some certainty to people and I think that what you will see coming out of the next Executive are some timelines in relation to non-essential retail and close contact services.”
It comes as the Department of Health confirmed three more deaths linked to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours.
An additional 57 positive cases were also reported — the lowest number in a 24-hour period since September.
Meanwhile, a tourism body has called for travel restrictions between Great Britain and NI to be eased. The Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (NITA) said the Great Britain market is important for local tourism.
Joanne Stuart, chief executive of NITA, said the devolved governments need to work together and provide clarity around rules for international travel.