Executive to consider further easing of lockdown - including setting up ‘social bubbles’ in NI

Ministers are also expected to consider the social distancing requirement for people to remain two metres apart, after a hospitality body warning that the rule could cost thousands of jobs in Northern Ireland.

There may also be discussions around a reopening date for publicans, to keep up with counterparts in the Irish Republic, and the compulsary wearing of face masks on public transport.

Discussions will also be held around setting a date for the reopening of shopping centres in Northern Ireland.

Earlier this week First Minister Arlene Foster said the Executive is keen to explore the concept of people meeting in social “bubbles” which has helped New Zealand lift almost all Covid-19-related restrictions and declare the country virus-free.

Groups of up to six are able to gather outdoors in Northern Ireland but not indoors due to increased risk of spread of the virus inside.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that people living alone in England will, from Saturday, be able to stay at one other household in a “support bubble”. The relaxation does not apply to Northern Ireland.

Reducing social distancing rules to one metre could save thousands of jobs in hospitality in Northern Ireland, it has been claimed.

Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill said: “We welcome the discussion by the Northern Ireland Executive into the possibility of the two-metre rule being reduced. A measure that would directly save thousands of jobs.

“At two metres it is simply not achievable or viable in most of our hospitality businesses.

“Even with a one-metre social distancing rule, many businesses will still be unsustainable, and we are working with government to reimagine how our hospitality offer could work.”

But ahead of a meeting of the Executive today to discuss further relaxation to social distancing measures, First Minister Arlene Foster emphasised that the two metre rule remains in place.

Mrs Foster said yesterday that the medical advice was that staying two metres apart was the “safest place to be”.

Yesterday was the fourth day in a row the Department of Health has recorded no new deaths in a 24-hour period from Covid-19.