Northern Ireland Executive urged to produce detailed roadmap out of lockdown

The Northern Ireland Executive will continue talks this week to plan Northern Ireland’s emergence from lockdown, though it could be some time before key dates are set.
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The News Letter understands that discussions around the lifting of restrictions began on Thursday and will continue today and later in the week.

As many Northern Ireland residents look jealously at England’s roadmap out of lockdown, it would seem that same level of detail isn’t on the agenda at Stormont just yet.

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A source told the News Letter that setting dates for lifting lockdown restrictions for things like schools, team sports and retail is not something that is likely to be forthcoming this week.

Police set up a number of check points yesterday after becoming aware of a car cruise event planned for the Portrush area. Photo by Declan Roughan / Press EyePolice set up a number of check points yesterday after becoming aware of a car cruise event planned for the Portrush area. Photo by Declan Roughan / Press Eye
Police set up a number of check points yesterday after becoming aware of a car cruise event planned for the Portrush area. Photo by Declan Roughan / Press Eye

It could be that the picture will be no clearer until at least March 18, when the current restrictions are due for review.

Yesterday police stepped up their patrols in the north coast to prevent a car cruise taking place in Portrush which would have breached lockdown restrictions.

It comes as three further Covid deaths were reported by the Department for Health, bringing the total number of deaths in NI to 2,055.

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With the Executive due to look at lifting some of the current restrictions, calls have been made to thrash out key dates which in turn will bring hope to the Province.

Belfast City Centre which is still in lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions.  The Northern Ireland Executive is due to revise the lockdown restrictions at Stormont. 

Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEyeBelfast City Centre which is still in lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions.  The Northern Ireland Executive is due to revise the lockdown restrictions at Stormont. 

Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye
Belfast City Centre which is still in lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Northern Ireland Executive is due to revise the lockdown restrictions at Stormont. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber of Trade Simon Hamilton asked the Executive “to set out a clear and unequivocal reopening plan that puts us all on a path back to some semblance of normality”.

He commented: “We have all been amazed at the huge success in the roll out of the vaccination programme and, thankfully, hospitalisation rates and deaths are heading in the right direction and that all surely allows the Executive to replicate what we have seen announced in England, Scotland and Wales in recent days.”

DUP MLA Carla Lockhart was also of the view that people need to have something to work towards.

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She said: “I think it would be important that we do get dates as soon as possible. We want to see the full return of sports, schools, retail, hospitality, weddings. It’s important that we give people some hope and some details.

“Our vaccine programme has been very successful. I think certainly people have adhered to the regulations.”

Carla said healthcare should be a key priority as we emerge from lockdown: “People are dying from cancer and other illnesses, there have been a number of suicides.

“We have to get to grip on the wider health of our population, there can’t be a hierarchy in health terms.”  

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She continued: “People need hope, they need dates, they need to be able to work towards something. We can’t go on with an endless cycle of lockdown and restrictions.

“Obviously the lifting of restrictions needs to be done in conjunction with medical advice.”

“I think it’s important that people see our Executive working towards reopening dates.

“People need to prepare – retailers with millions of pounds worth of stock, it’s important that they know what is happening.

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“I’m hopeful they’ll continue that conversation around reopening and give people hope, give people specific dates. It’s important that people see a pathway out of this.”

Social enterprise GLL, which operates Better gyms in Belfast, has said that the resumption of leisure services must take priority in the Executive’s pathway to recovery.

GLL’s Jacqui Pope said: “The public has endured almost a year of restrictions on the very way we live, work, exercise and interact. This is having untold consequences on the physical and mental health of our population and for every day that leisure facilities remain closed, public health deteriorates further and the risk to public wellbeing becomes critical.”

“Exercising outdoors has been tougher throughout the winter months and people have been robbed of the opportunity to enjoy regular exercise at a time when the negative and worrying news of the pandemic develops constantly.

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“The link between exercise and mental health is well understood and the Executive cannot delay on reinstating this vital aspect of public life.

Jacqui commented: “With plans to ease lockdown in England now published, the people of Northern Ireland deserve the same hope. As a leisure provider we stand ready to open our doors.”

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