New Delhi (NVI): Northern Ireland will enter a six-week new lockdown starting from December 26 in a bid to contain a surge in coronavirus cases.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill made the announcement and said the lockdown, agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive, would start on Boxing Day (December 26) and be reviewed after four weeks, according to the reports.
Under the new lockdown measures, which will come into force at 00.01 am on December 26, all non-essential businesses as well the hair salon, pubs, bars and restaurants apart from takeaway services will remain closed in the region.
Moreover, the first week of the new lockdown running till January 2 will also see even stricter measures, with all sporting activity to be banned and essential shops told to close at 8pm.
O’Neill in a briefing said she recognised the lockdown would be disappointing for many people, but that it was clear a longer and deeper intervention was necessary. “The health service would be completely crushed in January if we didn’t intervene now, so while this is draconian, it’s about saving lives,” she added.
Health Minister Robin Swann, who had proposed the package of measures also said it was the deepest and hardest decision ministers had faced since the beginning of the pandemic.
“There was no other way and the message come Boxing Day will be work from home, and stay at home, ” he added.
Northern Ireland ministers had a meeting on Thursday to discuss proposals for new restrictions as coronavirus case numbers continue to increase off the back of a recent two-week circuit break measures.
However, the development to impose new lockdown will come into force as the pandemic claimed another 12 lives in the Northern Ireland, raising the COVID-19 death toll to 1,154.
Apart from this, 656 new cases were recorded, a sharp rise from previous days, pushing the overall caseload to over 59,600 in the country.
-RJV
