[ad_1]
It is understood that the Northern Ireland Executive has agreed to a six-week lockdown starting on St. Stephen’s Day.
Ministers met for several hours Thursday night as the region struggles to suppress the virus.
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill described the situation as “quite dire.”
“It’s very clear from the positive cases we see every day that urgent intervention was required,” he said.
“The Executive had a detailed discussion about what had to be: about the duration of that and the details.
“What has been decided today is that there will be a six-week lockdown starting on December 26. That will remain for a six-week period.” But he added that it would be reviewed after four weeks.
The Sinn Féin leader said the hospitality will be closed in its entirety, except for take out.
All non-essential retail stores will be closed.
Those without licenses will be forced to close their doors at 8pm.
But the hotels will be open until December 28 to accommodate Christmas reservations.
The dog groomer will also be open, but the car washes will be closed.
“Financial support will also be implemented, so the current measures we have had on the previous restrictions will be transferred to support companies at this very challenging time,” said the deputy prime minister.
For those who had chosen to form a family bubble over the Christmas period, Ms. O’Neill said they would be allowed to move on.
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said Northern Ireland is in a “worse position” than during the entire pandemic.
“I think the health service would be completely crushed in January if we did not intervene now.
“While this is draconian in many ways, it is necessary, and it is about saving lives, it is about saving the health service and it is about taking some pressure off health care personnel,” he told reporters in Stormont.
“We have never been in such a bad position as now and we will be in January if this does not happen now.” He described what the ministers agreed to as a “longer and deeper intervention.”
“That has been a collective position of the Executive that has been reached tonight,” he said.
Speaking at Stormont, Ms. O’Neill said: “This will be disappointing for many.
“I think a lot of people would have expected it too. It is very clear that we needed an urgent intervention.
“I think this is the correct decision of the Executive, although I accept that it will be a challenge for many, many people.
“We tried to achieve a balance in all these things, but it is clear that we needed a more prolonged and deep intervention and I think that is what has come tonight.”
The minister did not decide to close the schools, O’Neill added.
“There was discussion about schools and what was agreed is that schools would stay for now, but that the health and education (departments) continue that conversation around things, for example, like blended learning and other things,” he said. .
“That conversation continues and I hope that both health and education can say more about that in the course of the next few days.”
[ad_2]