Indoor gatherings of up to six people to receive green light today - decision expected imminently

The Northern Ireland Executive looks set to approve indoor gatherings of up to six people from different households later today.
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The Executive will meet on Monday with the announcement expected at some stage in the afternoon.

It is not yet known if the decision will be a provisional announcement or if it will apply immediately.

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This development comes two days after Northern Ireland reported zero additional cases of COVID-19 in a 24 hour period for the first time since March.

If the NI Executive does approve indoor gatherings today Northern Ireland would become the first part of the United Kingdom to do so.

World renowned British oncologist, Professor Karol Sikora, has voiced his admiration for the way in which the NI Executive has managed the COVID-19 pandemic.

As recently as Thursday June 18, Professor Sikora, described the NI Executive's decision to reduce social distancing down to one metre for schoolchildren as "very sensible and great for children".

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"I've been so impressed with how Northern Ireland has dealt with this virus," said Professor Sikora.

A decision on indoor gatherings is expected today.A decision on indoor gatherings is expected today.
A decision on indoor gatherings is expected today.

"No deaths reported today [Thursday] and just one infection!

"They've also just moved from 2m distance to 1m in schools which will allow for full classes when they reopen.

"Very sensible and great for the children."

NI Coronavirus regulations as they currently stand:

Education

Teachers to return to schools from August 12.

Key year groups - seven, 12 and 14 - will return a week later on August 24. The rest of the school population will go back to class at the start of September.

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All primary school children, and secondary school children in younger year groups, will have to remain in protective bubbles limited to their own classes when they return.

Teachers will maintain two metres apart for social distancing however school children can stay one metre apart (this change makes Northern Ireland the first part of the United Kingdom to in anyway change the social distancing guideline of maintaining a two metre distance away from others).

Business and Employment

All retail outlets have been permitted to reopen since June 12.

Providing the infection rate remains lower than one, hair salons, barbers and nail bars can reopen in Northern Ireland on Monday July 6.

Food and Drink

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Hotels, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, pubs and bars will be able to welcome customers back from July 3.

Indoor pubs and bars opening on that date will have to primarily function as restaurants and offer substantial meals with table service.

The food prerequisite does not apply to alcohol being served outside in beer gardens, though table service is again compulsory.

Social Interaction

The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland are still not permitted to socialise indoors with people from a different household.

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However, people who live alone are permitted to form what has been described as a "social bubble".

What this means is that the person who lives alone can visit a second household and even stay there overnight without adhering to social distancing.

The "social bubble" cannot comprise of people from more than two households.

Groups of up to ten people from different households are permitted to meet up outside as long as all adhere to social distancing measures.

Leisure and Tourism

Museums and galleries are permitted to reopen on July 3.

All leisure facilities must remain closed.

Religion:

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Places of worship are currently permitted to open for individual prayer however these places will be able to open up to services again from June 29.

Weddings and Funerals:

Weddings and civil ceremonies comprising of up to 10 people can take place outside.

The funeral should be private and only the following should be there, up to a maximum of 10 people (this figure does not include funeral directors or other people needed to officiate at the service, such as faith/ pastoral representatives, grave diggers and so on), including: members of the person’s household; close family members; if the deceased has neither household nor family members in attendance, then it is possible for a modest number of friends to be there.

Social Distancing:

Stay at home as much as possible and limit contact with other people.

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Keep your distance if you do go out (stay two metres apart) and wash your hands well and often.

Work from home if you can.

Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

*List of regulations, guide and advice all accurate at the time of publication - for up-to-date information visit www.nidirect.gov.uk--

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