Northern Ireland re-enters ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown after seven days of easing of restrictions

A NEW TWO WEEK “circuit breaker” lockout begins in Northern Ireland today.

The restrictions will shut down all non-essential retail, leisure and hospitality businesses and churches, while family gatherings are not allowed.

However, schools can still remain open under the restrictions (which can be read in full here).

It comes just a week after a previous five-week ‘circuit breaker’ ended in the north, meaning certain businesses were allowed to reopen for a week.

Prime Minister Arlene Foster said last night that the next two weeks are “crucial” to allow those living in Northern Ireland to have a safe Christmas.

Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said a few things need clarification regarding Christmas, which will be discussed at the next Stormont executive meeting on Tuesday.

“There is a different approach in all jurisdictions in terms of, for example, what a home looks like and it is important that we define it ourselves,” O’Neill said.

The latest regulation will run until December 10 and was agreed upon during a meeting of the executive parties last week.

At the time, Health Minister Robin Swann warned that more interventions were needed before the end of this month to curb the spread of Covid-19.

There were strong divisions among the Stormont executive when the measures were extended the previous week as ministers struggled to agree to continue the restrictions.

Both the DUP and Sinn Fein have recently disagreed about how quickly to reopen the economy.

The DUP was criticized for using a veto designed by the peace process to thwart the plans of its power-sharing partner, Sinn Féin, to order an extension of the Northern Ireland circuit breaker.