Northern Ireland moves to 1m social distancing rule

Northern Ireland is to move to one metre social distancing from Monday 29th June, Arlene Foster has confirmed.

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster has welcomed the news. 

“This is fantastic news and the right decision by the Executive. We must thank the Ministers and the Economy Minister Diane Dodds in particular for bringing it to the Executive table. She has delivered once again for the sector.”

“The move to 1m has the potential to save lots of jobs and some hospitality businesses that thought they didn’t stand a chance at 2 metres.”

“The industry is prepared and will do everything it can to protect its staff and customers and reduce the spread of the virus, whilst at the same time reopening the hospitality sector for the benefit of the wider economy.”

“But there is work to do. Even under a 1m regime we are aware that some businesses in the hospitality sector just will not be able to open as it won’t be commercially viable to do so. But, we must give the sector a fighting chance and now we need to move to secure a date for the reopening of all hospitality businesses, including non-food pubs in the same way that our counterparts in the Republic of Ireland and England have, as we move headlong into the summer months.”

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