Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CRUMBS OF COMFORT
Bars shut for 2 more weeks & restaurants can open but without booze
THE Executive is expected to order a circuit-breaker extension that could see bars closed for another fortnight.
It adjourned last night after two meetings where it was mooted that reopening the hospitality sector could reopen but with a ban on alcohol.
However, ministers are expected to agree a partial reopening of the hospitality sector but keep alcoholonly pubs shut for a further fortnight.
Restaurants might reopen in that period but not serve drink.
A four-week circuit-break lockdown that has forced the closure of much of the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland is due to end at midnight on Thursday.
With hospitals still under sustained pressure dealing with Covid-19 admissions, ministers are set to extend some restrictions.
Restaurant owners have insisted the inability to sell alcohol would make trading unviable.
Belfast restaurateur Michael Deane called the proposal “crazy”.
He said: “Where does that leave us to go? Absolutely devastating and I think it is criminal , I think it is absolutely stupid.”
Chef Tony O’neill, who owns Coppi added: “We are haemorrhaging money
like every other restaurant in the city. To take alcohol away from a reduced 50% [of customers] is non viable. There is no point in opening”.
He said continual imposing and lifting of restrictions is “just becoming totally unsustainable” for the sector.
Mr O’neill has urged NI’S leaders to talk to hospitality groups and business owners and “we can try and steer you in the right direction”.
On Friday, pubs, cafes, bars, restaurants, beauty services and other close contact services will have been shut for four weeks costing the sector millions.
While the Executive has met a number of times about the issue, the
First and Deputy First Minister stated last week that any decision on an extension will have to involve the Assembly.
Other critics of the measures include Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley Jnr who accused the Executive of taking deci sions for th e “optics”.
He questioned the evidential basis for claiming th e ban on alcohol in restaurants would drive down infection rates.
Mr Paisley told the
BBC: “It’s like saying you can open a hairdresser but you can’t use a comb. “Seriously, what’s the evidence for that?” Mini st ers are also assessing whether closecontact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, could be allowed to resume, as long as strict restrictions are observed.
At yest erday ’s re mo t e E xe c u t iv e meeting, which lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, ministers requested further analysis on these proposals.
It is understood Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael Mcbride and Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Ian Young then worked to pull together evidence related to the specific moves.
Ministers reconvened late yesterday to consider the information.
It is understood any decisions will be announced i n the Assembly chamber by First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill.
Sources have said Health Minister Robin Swann favours an extension of the circuit-break measures for two weeks. Ten more coronavirus-related fatalities were reported yesterday to bring the death toll in Northern Ireland to 791.
Officials also said there were 471 more infections.
There are 55 patients being treated in intensive care units with 43 of them being ventilated.
In the Republic, one further coronavirus-related death was reported on and there have been 270 new confirmed cases.
Its death toll now stands at 1,948 since the pandemic began and a total of 65,659 cases of the disease have been diagnosed.