Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HAIR WE GO
Executive meeting next week to discuss salon starting dates
HOME haircuts may be a distant memory soon as ministers are set to meet next week to discuss options for salons and barbers.
Arlene Foster said the Executive will talk over “indicative dates” for the reopening of hairdressers.
The First Minister added: “We hope to be able to bring some joy to many of the females right across Northern Ireland.”
Meanwhile, shopping centres and non-essential stores opened their doors yesterday as part of new restriction relaxations.
Belfast Chamber of Commerce boss Simon Hamilton said: “It shows that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.”
STORMONT leaders will discuss the reopening of hairdressers next week, Arlene Foster revealed yesterday.
The First Minister also told how she has been inundated with pleas for salons to be allowed to get back to work.
DUP leader Mr Foster said the Executive would discuss “indicative dates” for the reopening of hairdressers at a meeting next week.
It comes as shopping centres and other small stores in Northern Ireland were allowed to reopen their doors for the first time since lockdown began.
The new measures are a part of a number of restriction measures lifted by the Executive this week.
Many people have waited more than 10 weeks for a haircut, while others have resorted to attempting DIY trims at home.
And when asked yesterday by Ben Shephard on Good Morning Britain where she would visit first for a bit of ‘retail therapy, the First Minister laughed: “I am looking forward to the hairdressers reopening more than anything else in the world.
“It is a very important point, it is one I receive many emails about from many females right across Northern Ireland, I have to say.
“We will be discussing indicative dates next week and we hope to be able to bring some joy to many of the females right across Northern Ireland.” The news came as shoppers got back on high streets in Northern Ireland as retailers returned to business after three months of lockdown.
All non-essential shops were able to reopen yesterday as the region became the first part of the UK to make the move.
The majority of shops in the Republic are already back trading.
In Belfast, footfall was still considerably down on pre-pandemic levels, with bad weather likely putting off some people from heading back to the city centre.
Those customers who did venture out were met with a range of new hygiene and social distancing measures, both in and outside retail outlets.
There were queuing systems in place, screens at tills and several shop workers wore masks. Shops pulled up their shutters as latest statistics showed the coronavirus death rate in Northern Ireland has fallen for a sixth week in a row.
Simon Hamilton, chief executive of Belfast Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the restart of business.
He said: “It’s great to hear shutters going up and staff coming in and people coming into city centre shopping again.
He said the retail industry is usually only closed for one day a year –
Christmas Day – so three months without trade has been “hugely devastating” to the sector.
Mr Hamilton said it was a symbolically important day.
He added: “It shows that there is some light at the end of the tunnel and a bit of hope that we are getting back to some semblance of normality.”
John Keenan, managing director of Bogart Menswear in the city centre, measured up customers in a speciallymade plastic pod, one of several hygiene steps he has installed.
He said: “We’re just looking for a few days’ good business to recoup some of the business we have lost.
“It’s been very hard. It’s been cruel on some people and we’re sorry to hear about all the deaths worldwide but hopefully we’re over the worst of it”.
Jane Tedford, from Greenisland, Co Antrim, was one of the first back in the Victoria Square shopping complex.
She said: “Ten weeks without shopping has been tough.
“I have missed buying things for my grandchildren, they are all in England and I normally send them T-shirts and things like that but I haven’t been able to because I don’t shop online.”
From today, people living alone will be able to spend time indoors with one other household without any social distancing restrictions.
That will enable grandparents living on their own to reunite and hug with their grandchildren once again.
I’m am looking forward to it more than anything
ARLENE FOSTER ON REOPENING OF SALONS