First Minister Arlene Foster told SF deputy Michelle O’Neill not to reveal potential restriction-easing of COVID lockdown in weekend interview - but she went ahead - NI now facing “a mental health tsunami’

It was claimed this morning on the Stephen Nolan Show that he had been told Michelle O’Neill phoned Arlene Foster on Saturday to say she would say that restaurants would open buyt not serve alcohol on BBC Sunday Politics - and the DUP leader told her not to do it.

But the Sinn Fein leader then went ahead with the interview.

On Sunday Ms O’Neill said the plan to come out of the four week lockdown could centre on allowing cafes and restaurants to re-open if they do not serve alcohol, but keeping bars shut – while also re-opening ‘close contact services’ such as hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, tattooists, sports and massage therapists, dress fitters, tailors and fashion designers.

This morning on Good Morning Ulster, First Minister Arlene Foster said she believes that ‘contact services’ in NI should open up.

The DUP leader said there was ‘no further evidence’ against they being closed.

She added that she is “trying to work to find a consensus to end Covid restrictiomns” adding that ”parties are at odds” over DUP proposal of partial reopening.

“I am very sorry that we have found ourselves in this situation where we are asking for another 2 weeks,” she said, adding that “we could yet ask for another 2 weeks”.

Mrs Foster also told the BBC that Northern Ireland was facing “a mental health tsunami” if the economy was not considered, as well as health advice.

“There will be excess deaths if we continue with the restrictions or if we take no decisions at all, so let’s have the whole picture out in the open,” said the DUP leader,” she said.

The first minister said that Economy Minister Diane Dodds presented a paper to the executive on Tuesday which said that the Northern Ireland economy has lost £400m over the last four weeks.

“If people do not have a job, they go into poverty,” she said.

“Poverty has its own health outcomes and I’m afraid to say that we are facing a mental health tsunami in relation to the pressure that we are putting on families as they come up to Christmas.”

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