Coronavirus NI: As tighter restrictions lift tonight this is what you are ALLOWED to do

Tighter restrictions put in place on November 27 to curb the spread of Covid-19. It will end at 23:59 GMT on Thursday.

That means non-essential retail, close-contact services such as hairdressers, and some parts of the hospitality sector can resume trading from Friday.

But the health minister said Northern Ireland was entering a “potentially dangerous phase” of the pandemic.

See latest advice here

Speaking on Wednesday, Robin Swann warned: “There is a real risk that over the festive season discipline will slip further.”

Pubs that do not serve food will have to remain shut.

Although bars that offer meals can reopen from Friday, the owners of some venues have decided to keep their premises closed until next year.

The end of the lockdown also means:

Hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons can reopen but visits to them are by appointment only

Churches can resume services, while weddings and funerals will have their cap of 25 people lifted

Gyms can reopen for individual training but not for classes

Sports training and matches can resume at all levels

Up to 500 spectators can attend outdoor sporting events

The Stormont executive has been advised that if the number of coronavirus cases rises sharply in the next few weeks, restrictions would need to be reimposed before the new year.

On Tuesday, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill did not rule out the possibility of such a move.

She said the executive could not provide “cast-iron guarantees” to the public about whether or not repeated interventions were needed.

“I hope we don’t have to get to the point where we have to bring in more restrictions but we have to keep everything on the table,” she added.

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