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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Brendan Hughes

Northern Ireland lockdown restrictions: Non-essential retail and hairdressers could reopen from April 26 under Stormont proposals

Non-essential retail and close-contact services such as hairdressers could be set to reopen from April 26 under proposals to be discussed by Stormont ministers.

Restaurants that do not serve alcohol may also be permitted to reopen outdoors from the same date as part of relaxations to coronavirus restrictions for the hospitality industry.

In tourism, it is proposed some areas such as self-contained accommodation and static caravan sites could reopen in early May.

They are among the proposals submitted to the Stormont Executive's coronavirus taskforce by Economy Minister Diane Dodds, sources have told Belfast Live.

The reopening of outdoor visitor attractions is also understood to be up for discussion.

The Executive will have its next formal review of Covid-19 restrictions when it meets on April 15.

A number of lockdown restrictions will be eased from April 12, including the reopening of garden centres and car washes. Contactless click-and-collect for all non-essential retail will also resume.

First Minister Arlene Foster has said she hopes the Executive will be able to give a timeline for the reopening of hairdressers, beauticians and non-essential retail following their meeting next week.

She said: "I don't have the paper in front of me but I do know that Diane has submitted tourism and hospitality measures as well as the reopening of retail and close-contact services."

First Minister Arlene Foster (Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

Mrs Foster refused to be drawn on whether April 26 is a date being proposed by the Economy Minister, but said ministers wanted to give people certainty and time to prepare.

"Obviously there are many people who have been waiting for this," the DUP leader told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"We know that close-contact services opened in Scotland this week, already opened in Wales, therefore people are waiting eagerly to see when the Executive makes those decisions."

Mrs Foster said she hoped ministers would be able to reach a consensus on reopening some sectors as the number of daily Covid-19 cases continues to fall.

She said: "I do hope colleagues will recognise given the fact that the Covid numbers continue to fall and we are very thankful for that, given that vaccination continues to go very well in Northern Ireland, and given the economic impact that these restrictions are having, I hope that we are able to come to a decision which gives dates to people when we next review these matters."

Northern Ireland is moving out of lockdown at a slower pace compared to Great Britain.

In England, non-essential retail, hairdressers, nail salons and gyms will reopen from April 12. Pubs and restaurants serving outside will also reopen on Monday.

In Scotland, hairdressers and barbers reopened for pre-booked appointments earlier this week, while hairdressers in Wales reopened for pre-booked appointments last month.

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