WATCH: Arlene Foster defends the decision to ease Coronavirus restrictions

By Q Radio News and PA Reporters

The First Minister Arlene Foster has defended the decision to ease the restrictions as the Stormont Executive's agrees that COVID-19 measures will be relaxed as planned from midnight.

Non essential retail, hospitality outlets serving food and close contact services can all reopen.

However, there'll be strict rules in place to limit the spread of the virus, including a curfew of 11 pm on restaurants and pubs:

“We haven’t seen the impact of these last two weeks of restrictions,” Mrs Foster said..

“Of course we are very disappointed to see the number of deaths this week, 73, that’s a big number, and therefore when we look at these figures it’s important we realise that comes after two weeks when we were out of restrictions.

Some restrictions will ease from tomorrow, but there is no easing of the need for all of us to follow the public health guidelines. pic.twitter.com/hMBD5PXhOL

— Arlene Foster DBE PC #ProudofNI. (@ArleneFosterUK) December 10, 2020

“People have to realise that personal responsibility is the key issue here. We have made provision that people can get together over Christmas but they should do so in a safe way, and just because we say you can doesn’t mean that you have to, and that’s very key.

“Yes, we come out of restrictions tonight and into tomorrow morning but we are keeping a very close eye on where the R number is at, we’ll be looking at that again next week and the week after to see where we are going with restrictions.”

Arlene Foster said Covid ambassadors will be in town centres to provide advice.

She said restrictions will remain on sport, including outdoor exercise limited to groups of 15 and spectators at outdoor sporting matches will be limited to 500.

She said gyms, swimming and diving pools can open for individual or one-to-one training and PE can continue in schools but inter-school sporting fixtures are not allowed.

Meanwhile church services can take place with worshippers wearing face coverings.

Turning to Christmas, Arlene Foster said gatherings in homes will be permitted from December 23 to 27.

“Over the next weeks and months I ask you all to be sensible, make good choices and keep yourself and others safe,” she said.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said while it has been good work with the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccination, there is “still a way to go”.

“We face difficult months ahead and each and every one of us has a huge individual and collective role to play in all of that,” she said.

“We must not forget the fact that 73 people have lost their lives this week. Community transmission rates are still high, 441 more people tested positive for Covid in the last 24 hours and our hospitals are under huge pressure, currently sitting at 101% occupancy.

“We need your support now more than ever to get through these next number of weeks and months as safely as we possibly can.”

Both First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said they are prepared to get the coronavirus vaccination publicly.

“I have no difficulty doing that, I will be taking the vaccination,” Mrs Foster said.

She added having turned 50 this year she will be joining the over-50s group to receive the jab.

“I am very much looking forward to taking the vaccination to protect myself, my family and my friends and colleagues,” she said.

Ms O’Neill said: “I am more than happy to take the vaccination whenever it is my turn, and more than happy to do it in public because I believe that is the way through, this is the real way to fight back against Covid and I’m absolutely 100% content to take it.”