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| Coronavirus: NI's hotels and bars can reopen from 3 July | Coronavirus: NI's hotels and bars can reopen from 3 July |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes can reopen from 3 July, the economy minister has confirmed. | Northern Ireland's hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes can reopen from 3 July, the economy minister has confirmed. |
| Diane Dodds brought a proposal to Monday's executive meeting, urging ministers to agree to the plan. | Diane Dodds brought a proposal to Monday's executive meeting, urging ministers to agree to the plan. |
| Hotels in NI had been given an indicative date of 20 July for reopening - but it has now been brought forward. | Hotels in NI had been given an indicative date of 20 July for reopening - but it has now been brought forward. |
| Self-catering tourist accommodation can open from 26 June, added Mrs Dodds. | Self-catering tourist accommodation can open from 26 June, added Mrs Dodds. |
| She described the decision as a "good day for the Northern Ireland economy". | |
| "It's a good day for tourism and hospitality, and in particular a sector that has been incredibly hard hit by the lockdown." | |
| "Everything is dependent on the advice that the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser give us around the spread of the virus at that particular time," she added. | |
| Many in the tourism and hospitality industries had been pressing for an earlier date, after the Irish government said the sector in the Republic of Ireland could reopen on 29 June. | Many in the tourism and hospitality industries had been pressing for an earlier date, after the Irish government said the sector in the Republic of Ireland could reopen on 29 June. |
| The Stormont Executive has also agreed that from 3 July all hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars that serve food will be allowed to open. | The Stormont Executive has also agreed that from 3 July all hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars that serve food will be allowed to open. |
| More details are expected at the executive's press conference at Stormont shortly after 16:00 BST. | More details are expected at the executive's press conference at Stormont shortly after 16:00 BST. |
| Earlier, First Minister Arlene Foster said that, given the current number of hospital and intensive care admissions, Northern Ireland could now "move in a flexible way". | Earlier, First Minister Arlene Foster said that, given the current number of hospital and intensive care admissions, Northern Ireland could now "move in a flexible way". |
| Draconian measures | Draconian measures |
| The first minister said the plan to move out of lockdown did not contain specific dates. | The first minister said the plan to move out of lockdown did not contain specific dates. |
| "We wanted to be flexible and move as the virus moves and this how allowed us to look at things in a proactive way and in an ongoing basis as well. | "We wanted to be flexible and move as the virus moves and this how allowed us to look at things in a proactive way and in an ongoing basis as well. |
| She said the regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus were "draconian" and had a detrimental impact on the economy and society in general. | She said the regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus were "draconian" and had a detrimental impact on the economy and society in general. |
| "There's a need to look at this in a balanced way and move forward when we can. | "There's a need to look at this in a balanced way and move forward when we can. |
| "We are led by our medical and scientific advice," she said. | "We are led by our medical and scientific advice," she said. |
| "It's important that we continue to look at that and, at the same time, recognise the damage these regulations have done to society." | "It's important that we continue to look at that and, at the same time, recognise the damage these regulations have done to society." |
| There were no coronavirus-related deaths recorded in Northern Ireland on Sunday. | There were no coronavirus-related deaths recorded in Northern Ireland on Sunday. |
| The Department of Health's death toll, which relates mostly to deaths in hospitals, remains at 541. | The Department of Health's death toll, which relates mostly to deaths in hospitals, remains at 541. |
| The economy minister would like to see the two metre social distancing rule changed to enable hotels, bars and restaurants to function. | The economy minister would like to see the two metre social distancing rule changed to enable hotels, bars and restaurants to function. |
| Mrs Foster said this was an ongoing discussion and acknowledged that some countries had reduced the distance. | Mrs Foster said this was an ongoing discussion and acknowledged that some countries had reduced the distance. |
| "We have recognised the real challenge for the tourism industry in particular and, absolutely education as well," she said. | "We have recognised the real challenge for the tourism industry in particular and, absolutely education as well," she said. |
| But the first minister stressed that that no-one wanted to see a second phase of Covid-19 and it was important to be very careful. | But the first minister stressed that that no-one wanted to see a second phase of Covid-19 and it was important to be very careful. |
| Deputy First Minster Michelle O'Neill confirmed to BBC Northern Ireland's Sunday Politics programme there would be "significant announcements" in the days ahead. | Deputy First Minster Michelle O'Neill confirmed to BBC Northern Ireland's Sunday Politics programme there would be "significant announcements" in the days ahead. |
| The R-number | The R-number |
| The Department of Health has confirmed the R number of the virus in Northern Ireland remains at between 0.5 and 0.9. | The Department of Health has confirmed the R number of the virus in Northern Ireland remains at between 0.5 and 0.9. |
| R is the number of people each infected person, on average, passes the virus on to and it has been at the heart of Stormont's decision making. The goal is to keep R under one. | R is the number of people each infected person, on average, passes the virus on to and it has been at the heart of Stormont's decision making. The goal is to keep R under one. |
| On Sunday, the department also released the scientific data behind how they calculate the number and other estimates on how prevalent the infection currently is in Northern Ireland. | On Sunday, the department also released the scientific data behind how they calculate the number and other estimates on how prevalent the infection currently is in Northern Ireland. |
| It says the number of people who are infected with coronavirus is currently between 300 and 2,000 - the department says it cannot be more specific because of the large numbers of people who are asymptomatic. | It says the number of people who are infected with coronavirus is currently between 300 and 2,000 - the department says it cannot be more specific because of the large numbers of people who are asymptomatic. |
| Less than 5% of the population have recovered from Covid-19 and have detectable antibodies, the department suggests, meaning the majority of the population remain susceptible to the virus. | Less than 5% of the population have recovered from Covid-19 and have detectable antibodies, the department suggests, meaning the majority of the population remain susceptible to the virus. |
| That means "any subsequent waves of the epidemic have the potential to be significantly worse" than the current outbreak, according to the department's update. | That means "any subsequent waves of the epidemic have the potential to be significantly worse" than the current outbreak, according to the department's update. |
| It is estimated that the hospitality industry employs 65,000 jobs and is worth £2bn annually. | It is estimated that the hospitality industry employs 65,000 jobs and is worth £2bn annually. |
| Stormont ministers are also looking at the possibility of giving cafe and bar owners the chance to use pavements and other outside spaces to serve customers. | Stormont ministers are also looking at the possibility of giving cafe and bar owners the chance to use pavements and other outside spaces to serve customers. |
| It is also expected some venues may have their entertainment restricted to prevent large crowds gathering on their premises. | It is also expected some venues may have their entertainment restricted to prevent large crowds gathering on their premises. |