Covid-19: St Patrick's Day 'must be different', warns Foster

St Patrick's Day "must be different" in Northern Ireland this year, to ensure progress made as the coronavirus lockdown continues, First Minister Arlene Foster has warned.

She made the plea as she announced the first key changes to the restrictions.

All primary school pupils will return next Monday with all post-primary students set to return on 12 April.

There will also be changes to meeting up and some sports will be allowed to resume from 1 April.

Mrs Foster said decision-making capital was limited and needed to be "spent wisely".

"If we spend the capital on one easement of restrictions, it can't be spent on other things at the same time," she told the Stormont Assembly on Tuesday.

The executive has regular review points every four weeks, with the next scheduled for 15 April.

Outlining details of the executive's decisions, Mrs Foster said it was important restrictions were worked through in a "careful and managed way" at each review point.

"St Patrick's Day would normally be enjoyed by many. We need this to be different tomorrow," she said.

"Please continue to stay home. Do not socialize outside your family or your bubble, and we particularly want to say to young people that you need to follow the rules and the advice."

She said the decision to prioritised education was important for children to "build and grow their friendship networks, to be able to socialise and grow their own interests and future potential".

"The weather is improving and we have been in this current lockdown for around 80 days," added the first minister.

"That is a long time and a big ask, and we have been so grateful to everyone who has made a personal contribution to the improvement in the Covid situation.

Mrs Foster acknowledged some people would be disappointed their sectors had not yet been given dates to reopen.

"We have focused on outdoor settings where the risk is relatively lower than indoor settings," she added.

From Monday 22 March, the remaining pupils in primary schools can resume face-to-face learning (P4-P7), with post-primary students in Years 12-14 returning on that date too.

All other post-primary students (years 8-11) should return on 12 April, after the Easter holidays, subject to public health advice.

From 1 April, other easements include:

From 12 April, the rules will change, subject to a review after Easter weekend, to permit:

The executive has also agreed to increase the provision for elite sports from March 25 March to allow a number of new competitions to begin.

Mrs Foster said the "minor adjustment" to the restrictions would allow two World Cup qualification matches scheduled for 25 and 31 March to take place as well as a friendly match between NI and the USA on 28 March.

No spectators will be permitted at any sporting event.

Stormont's health minister said it was vitally important that a "free-for-all" situation was avoided as restrictions eased.

In a paper for the Stormont Executive, Robin Swann said he continued to recommend a gradual approach.

There pandemic had resulted in "increased harmful alcohol consumption, more snacking and increased sedentary behaviour", he added.

On Tuesday, one death was reported by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, bringing its total to 2,100.

A further 164 cases of the virus were also confirmed.

There are 176 inpatients currently being treated for coronavirus in Northern Ireland, with 18 in intensive care.

Tough coronavirus restrictions were initially imposed on 26 December, in a bid to curb a rise in cases of Covid-19 across Northern Ireland.

There have been some adjustments to the rules but households are generally still not allowed to mix indoors, pubs, cafes and restaurants remain closed except for takeaway, and most shops are shut.

In Northern Ireland, P1 to P3 pupils returned to the classroom last Monday, as did nursery and pre-school children.

Last week, the executive ditched a previous plan for those pupils to go back to remote learning on 22 March when some secondary schoolchildren, year groups 12 to 14, are due to return to school.

Education Minister Peter Weir had been pushing for all remaining pupils to return as soon as possible.

Vulnerable children and children of key workers have had access to schools for supervised learning since January, and special schools remained open as usual.

Schools in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have all reopened on a wider basis.

Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma, said she was "pleased with a tinge of frustration" about the move.

She told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme that many primary school staff had been preparing for further remote learning, in the absence of clarity from the executive.

"But I am seeing how pleased parents are about pupils going back and it adds weight to the commitment the executive has given and that schools are a priority for them," she added.

Meanwhile, staff in post-primary schools and pupils in years 12 to 14 are to get twice-weekly lateral flow tests from 22 March.

Education Minister Peter Weir said that after the Easter break the programme would expand to include all primary school staff.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said the Click and Collect news was welcomed as a "much-needed lifeline to those struggling independent retailers".

However he added that it was disappointing no dates had been given.

"Why is it the Scottish Government can give dates for these vital sectors to reopen, yet our Executive cannot?"

He said that he felt non-essential retail should have been given a date in April to reopen alongside "immediate preparation to ensure our high streets have Covid-Marshals and public hand sanitisers in place to limit virus transmission and reassure consumers".

"This is a bitterly disappointing decision which lets down thousands of struggling small business owners and their staff," he added.