Covid-19 in NI: Queues form as shops reopen in NI

Shoppers across NI have been queuing outside stores as the latest stage of lockdown easing has seen retail reopen.

Gyms, pubs, restaurants and cafes can also now reopen after a four-month winter lockdown.

It comes after Stormont ministers agreed earlier this month that restrictions could be eased due to falling cases of coronavirus.

Hospitality businesses must only operate outdoors, with table service and limited numbers per table.

Caravans and self-contained tourist accommodation can also now reopen.

Gyms and swimming pools, including those based in leisure centres, can only open for individual training or for one-to-one coaching with a personal trainer.

Restrictions on meeting up outside have also been slightly further eased, with 15 people from three households allowed to meet in a private garden.

Hospitality businesses - licensed and unlicensed - can reopen but only for outdoor service, limited to six people from two households at a table.

Earlier closing times for takeaway businesses and off-licences, imposed at the onset of the lockdown in December, have also been removed.

In Londonderry, shoppers began queuing outside the Primark store from 06.30 BST on Friday.

In Portrush, County Antrim, Camilla Long from the Causeway Chamber of Commerce described an "amazing sense of optimism" in the town.

"I was walking around here last night and there were trucks delivering, windows being washed, doors open for the first time in 18 weeks, people getting ready to do what we do best in the north coast, and that's to welcome visitors back and we're looking forward to doing that super safely," she said.

However, Ms Long added that it was important to acknowledge those whose businesses have collapsed due to the pandemic.

"I've been speaking to business owners all of this week and they've been talking about how incredibly challenging the winter was.

"And I think it's really important to remember that there are a large number of businesses that are no longer with us, and for each and every business owner and family who relies on that business, that is a tragedy."

Adrian Walker, partnership manager for GLL, which runs Belfast City Council's gyms and leisure centres, told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster programme that he expects May to be a busy month.

He said: "What we're finding is people are really keen to get back and get back into some form of exercise.

"You you need to pre-book your slot via our app or website."

He said the "trickle flow programme" the leisure centre had implemented meant there was reduced capacity at the gym, but allowed people more time to use different machines.

There was almost a party atmosphere in the centre of Belfast this morning.

The sun was shining, the buskers were back and people were keen to shop.

Primark, which famously doesn't sell online, was particularly busy and its queues were well marshalled.

"People are glad to get out. It's been a long four months," one of those Primark shoppers told me.

Health Minister Robin Swann has warned the hospitality industry not to seek or promote cross-border business, while there is a disparity in Covid vaccination numbers.

On Thursday the government in the Republic of Ireland announced a phased relaxation of its highest level of Covid-19 lockdown rules over the coming weeks and months.

The country has been at Level Five restrictions since Christmas.

From 10 May, people can travel outside their county and close contact services and click and collect retail can resume.

The Stormont Executive's advice remains that people in Northern Ireland should "stay local".

Ministers have given an indicative date of 24 May for hospitality businesses to be allowed to resume trading indoors, but this will need to be approved on 13 May at the next review of the coronavirus restrictions.

This would also include the reopening of tourist accommodation such as hotels and B&Bs.

There has been some confusion around the implementation of Covid-19 regulations for outdoor hospitality venues in NI.

An industry body said on Thursday that the majority of hospitality businesses had failed last-minute inspections for reopening.

The Department of Health said the general rule of thumb was that outdoor premises should not be more than 50% enclosed - a requirement supported by a statement from the Executive Office on Thursday.

The legislation states that a premises is substantially enclosed if it has a ceiling or roof but there is "an opening in the walls".

Responsibility for enforcing the regulations on outdoor areas rests with local councils.

Sean McLaughlin, who owns a fish and chip shop in Portrush, expressed frustration that the outdoor area he had invested in for diners was deemed unsuitable on Thursday because its partial coverage did not comply with the regulations.

"There's more than adequate ventilation to sit there as one family, but you can go to big stores today and brush hands with people and there's nothing.

"We've put this in and we're left stuck with it.

"Economy Minister Diane Dodds told us to adapt and overcome - we have. And then in the last minute, they tell us they're going to enforce [smoking legislation].

"Restaurateurs who are using the exact same space that they used last year are now being told they can't use it - it's nonsensical."

Mr McLaughlin was told on Friday morning his "pods" could not open but that the restaurant had other outdoor seating.

Meanwhile many bars are only licensed to sell alcohol indoors but had thought if they provided a safe outdoor area they would be permitted to open.

Three bars in Belleek in County Fermanagh, which had planned to reopen, were contacted by the PSNI this week to say they would not be allowed to open.

Bridie Gormley, the owner of Black Cat Cove, said it was an added blow for "a small rural town that has suffered terribly during Covid".

"Initially we thought that we were going to be opening on Friday for outdoor service but just on Monday we found out that our outdoor area is not licensed for outdoor serving," she told BBC News NI.

"When it was announced we thought that they were going to ease the legislation and allow us to serve outside but apparently that's not the case.

"We had spent thousands of pounds on outdoor furniture, preparing an outdoor area. We bought in our stock and we had given our staff a starting date and now all of that has had to be cancelled".