Rule of six comes in for indoor hospitality
As expected, indoor hospitality has been cleared to return from May 24 by the Executive.
That decision is still subject to review on May 20,but barring any late changes cafes, bars, hotels and restaurants will be able to throw open their doors subject to certain mitigations.
These include permitting up to six people to sit together, removing the restriction on the number of households they can be from.
However, the Executive stressed again the importance of contact details for test and trace.
Publican Bernard Lavery , below, welcomed the news, telling LCN: “The vaccination rollout is going incredibly well, hospital admissions and serious illness with Covid are declining and those in the trade have already put mitigations in place.
“For us, this includes greeters, to take you from the queue to your table, QR code ordering, track and trace and of course the required social distancing.”
Rules at a glance:
- Children under 12 are not counted in the 6
- Table service only
- More will be permitted if all are from one household, to a maximum of 10.
- All contact details must be taken and retained.
- Social distancing required – minimum of 1m.
- Must stay at table – no gaming machines, pool tables, etc.;
- Face coverings must be worn once no longer seated for any reason, for example, to go to the toilet
- No meal requirement
- No dancing
- No live music
- Music must be at ambient level to permit normal conversation
- Risk assessment as per current regulations for outdoors
Hospitality Ulster chief Colin Neill also welcomed the announcement, but highlighted the plight of businesses such as nightclubs and music venues which are likely to stay closed
“Immediate attention must be given to continued financial support for these businesses as we work to reopen them and bring music and culture back to Northern Ireland’s nightlife as soon as possible,” Mr Neill said.
