Today, the First Minister and deputy First Minister have announced a series of relaxation of Covid-19 lockdown measures, agreed by the Executive.
The package of relaxations are as follows:
From April 23:
Resumption of driving instruction and theory tests;
Driving testing can resume;
Re-opening of close contact services including training;
Re-opening of outdoor visitor attractions including outdoor activity centres;
Resumption of Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning (EATL) on an indoor and outdoor basis in gatherings of up to 30 people;
Outdoor sport organised by a club, individual or individuals affiliated will be extended to include squad training;
Competitive outdoor sport organised by a club, individual or individuals affiliated, with participant numbers not exceeding 100 and no spectators permitted can return and
Static band practice/rehearsal will be permitted in agreed outdoor locations.
From 30 April:
Increase the numbers permitted to gather in Domestic Setting Outdoors – to 15 people from no more than 3 households;
Reopen all of retail;
Reopen and permit overnight stays in self-contained tourist accommodation for one household only;
Reopen unlicensed premises, outdoors only with a maximum of 6 people from 2 households per table and contact details recorded;
Reopen licensed premises, including social clubs, outdoors only, limited to 6 people from no more than 2 households and contact details recorded;
Remove the curfew on takeaways;
Remove the curfew on off licences; and
Permit individual activities in gyms, swimming pools and other large venues – including with a carer and to allow 1-2-1 training/coaching with social distancing.
An indicative date of May 24:
Reopening unlicensed and licensed premises indoors with mitigations;
Reopening the remainder of Tourist accommodation;
Allowing visits indoors in domestic settings;
Reopening indoor visitor attractions; and
Resume indoor group exercise and training in numbers limited to suit the venue.
The next formal review of the Covid-19 Regulations under the Pathway out of Restrictions will be carried out on May 13, 2021.