Further easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures announced by ministers

By Q Radio News and PA

Further easements to the COVID-19 lockdown measures were announced today.

Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster told a news conference at Parliament Buildings people living alone will be able to spend the night with one other household from June 13, in an effort to combat loneliness caused by the restrictions.

She said: "We want to minimise the impact of loneliness and isolation on people by enabling people to meet in a controlled and straightforward way."

She added: "People who live alone can form a small support unit or support bubble with one other house."

All retailers can open on Friday, Stormont ministers agreed.

The Stormont Executive's decision followed mounting pressure from people anxious to see their loved ones, and a decline in the number of daily deaths from Covid-19 and the rate of spread of the disease.

The First Minister added: "They can form a bubble with another household.

"They can go into that household and stay for as long as they want.

"They can stay overnight if they want to.

"There can be physical contact."

Other steps agreed by the powersharing devolved Executive on Thursday included:

- All retailers including those in shopping centres will be able to reopen from Friday June 12.

Arlene Foster speaking at today's press conference

Smaller traders had already been planning to roll up their shutters on Friday and larger outfits like home furniture giant Ikea are already accepting customers with social distancing measures in place.

- The housing market will fully reopen.

People will be able to view properties again and move home.

- Elite athletes have been given the all-clear to start training again from June 15.

Earlier this week the Mary Peters Track in Belfast began welcoming runners again.

- Child care centres in places like church halls have been given the green light to begin operating again from this Friday.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds earlier warned the two-metre social distancing regulation had created serious problems for child care providers and other businesses.

On Thursday, Stormont ministers decided not to change the requirement as science shows two metres provides a greater level of protection against transmission of the virus than one metre.

First Minister Arlene Foster said they would revisit the issue surrounding schools and tourism next week.

"Whilst of course we want to open up and get back to normality we have to say to people as well that we do have to be cautious and take it step by step," she said.

"It is about the cumulative impact of these relaxations so that we don't cause this virus to get to the stage where it is transmitting again in the community."

Stormont Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said it was a rolling process of lifting restrictions.

"What we have set out today is an incremental way forward," she said.

"This is going to be a rolling programme of easements.

"We will be able to do more on Monday, more on Thursday in terms of the regulations.

"This is a stage post to Monday then Thursday then it will be an ongoing programme after that."