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Updated 20 minutes ago
PEOPLE IN THE NORTH OF Ireland are being asked not to plan or reserve anything for Easter, as the lockdown there has been extended until April.
The Stormont Executive confirmed this afternoon that the closure will last until April 1, but people are warned that this “will not be the date when everything opens.”
This year, April 1 is Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday three days later, April 4.
The Northern Ireland blockade was due to expire on March 5, but most of the elements will be extended.
Some elementary school students will return to school on March 8 and restrictions on socializing outdoors will be slightly eased.
Click and collect will also be allowed for some retailers that were previously classified as non-essential retailers.
Speaking this afternoon, Prime Minister Arlene Foster said that “a total lifting of these restrictions is not possible at this time.”
“I think we understand and we absolutely realize that people would like us to move faster to lift the restrictions. But when you are in a leadership position and when you realize the risks involved, sometimes you have to comply with the fact that you have to go a little slower in relation to the restrictions, “he said.
Relaxing restrictions on outdoor gatherings means that starting March 8, up to 10 people from no more than two households will be able to meet in a park or public space.
The measures will be reviewed again on March 18 and Foster said that the Executive will also “give direction” around Easter on that date.
“Obviously, we understand that Easter is a very important time for many families, so we want to give advice at that time, so March 18 is the next date that all restrictions will be reviewed,” he said.
Northern Ireland Finance Minister Conor Murphy emphasized that “small, gradual steps are crucial” in easing restrictions and said he too was concerned about Easter.
“The advice would be not to be doing anything or to reserve anything for the Easter weekend, there will be a review as Arlene said on March 18. But I think the way the advice has been given today is that all the numbers are going in the right direction, “he said.
It is a very gradual rate, there is no rapid reduction, and obviously the vaccination progress process is going very well, but it will be a slow return to a more normal life. And I don’t think that on this side of Easter there is serious relief from restrictions.
Schools
The plan for resuming education will allow primary school students in the first three years of class (P1 – P3) to return to face-to-face learning on March 8.
Only vulnerable children and those of key workers have been in classrooms since January.
On March 22, high school students from the key examination years (age 12-14 age groups) will return to school.
Students in P1-P3 will return to distance learning for one week on that date, during the week before Easter holidays, to minimize the impact on infection rates for returning years 12-14.
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No decision has been made as to whether the groups from other years will return to class after the Easter break.
Foster said during today’s briefing that it was important for the testing years to return:
We took a balanced view that since these 12-14 year olds were not going to be able to sit for exams, we needed to have some kind of objective assessment of their ability. And in order to do that in the time frame available, we had to bring them back before Easter.
Click and collect
At today’s executive meeting, ministers also agreed to do some relaxations to allow for “click and collect” shopping at some outlets previously categorized as non-essential retailers.
Starting March 8, click-and-pick will be allowed in stores that sell baby items, clothing and footwear, and appliances.
Since Christmas, the people of Northern Ireland have only been able to leave home for essential purposes such as work or exercise.
The Stormont Health Department today announced the deaths of six other people diagnosed with Covid-19 along with an additional 342 confirmed cases of the virus.
A total of 418 coronavirus hospitalized patients were recorded at midnight, 51 of whom were in intensive care.
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