Stormont has announced a further relaxing of the Covid-19 lockdown with activities from visiting churches to meeting small groups of friends now permitted.
At the daily briefing, First Minister Arlene Foster said churches will re-open but only for “acts of individual worship”, providing ongoing guidelines like social distancing can be adhered to.
Outdoor activities now permitted include meeting friends in groups of up to six people as well as past-times where social distancing can be followed and there is no “touching of shared hard surfaces” like golf and tennis.
Meeting family members indoors, however, will not yet be permitted, Mrs Foster said. The First Minister said the health advice was that the virus spreads more easily indoors than outdoors.
Religious services are “under review”, she said, but added that drive-in religious services are allowed so long as people “remain in their cars”.
Small weddings are also being considered, the DUP leader said. The arts, Mrs Foster said, “provide solace and escapism” to many people and there will be some relaxation here too in the form of cinemas, concerts and live theatre where they are drive-in and audiences stay in their vehicles.
“The relaxations I have announced have been made possible by the vast majority of you faithfully following the public health advice on self-isolation... and social distancing," said Mrs Foster.
She added: “They have been hard-won freedoms. It is vital that when you exercise those you do it in a way that does not put anyone else’s safety at risk.”
You can follow the latest updates over on our Live Blog.
