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The decentralized government of Northern Ireland has again widened its ‘circuit breaker’ lock and significantly increased restrictions.
The hospitality sector and close contact services, such as hairdressers, have been closed for five weeks now.
Under new restrictions, which take effect for two weeks starting Friday, November 27, retail stores and non-essential churches will also close.
It means that the cafes and close contact services, which may reopen this weekend, will close again a week later.
The pubs will be closed for another two weeks from November 27.
The licensed pubs and restaurants, which were due to reopen on Friday, November 27, will be closed for another two weeks.
Schools will remain open, but there is speculation about an extended Christmas break and some principals are urging North IrelandThe education minister follows his Scottish and Welsh counterparts and scraps the exams.
New Northern Ireland restrictions include:
- Closure of all non-essential retailers
- Close contact services closure
- Closure of places of worship (except weddings and funerals, limited to 25)
- Closing of all leisure and entertainment venues.
- Hospitality allowed to offer takeaway service only
- Outside licenses to close at 8 pm
Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann had urged the power-sharing executive to impose more restrictions now.
He told the ministers that he feared a coronavirus the closure in mid-December would not be enough to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
The updated blocking rules for Northern Ireland
Prime Minister Arlene Foster said: “The sobering prospect was presented to the executive today that our hospitals will be overwhelmed in a few weeks.
“It is clear that a tough, carefully timed intervention is required to give us the best chance of having a safe and happy Christmas and later in the New Year period.”
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Seventy-six people have lost their lives for COVID-19 only in the last week.
“Hospital occupancy is currently 100%. Our hospitals remain under extreme pressure, as are the staff we depend on to provide care.
“Doing nothing would inevitably lead to the entire system being completely overwhelmed.”
The ‘R’ number, which indicates the level of transmission of the virus, stands at around 1 in Northern Ireland, but hospitals register more hospitalized patients than during the first wave.
The Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said the decision to close non-essential stores couldn’t come at a worse time for them.
Director Aodhan Connolly said: “The closure of nonessential retail during what is our golden quarter is a huge blow to retailers already feeling the pressure of declining influx and rising costs.
“November and December are the busiest months for business and millions of pounds per week will be lost in sales during what should be our busiest period.”
Glyn Roberts, CEO of Retail NI, said: “The executive has made a decision that will kill small businesses, rather than the virus. Christmas is early for Amazon.
“This terrible decision will be a severe blow to our already struggling main streets and to thousands of independent retailers who will be forced to close at the most important shopping time of the year.
“Tens of thousands of jobs and small businesses are now at risk from this ill-considered measure.”
