WATCH: Landmark moment as NI High Street opens again for business
'Shops have worked very very hard to get to this point' Aodhan Connolly
Last updated 12th Jun 2020
Northern Ireland today (Friday) became the first region in the UK to re-open its High stores and shopping centres after months in lockdown.
They were given the all-clear by Stormont ministers on Thursday following reduced numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths.
Scientific experts estimated the level of transmission of the virus was manageable.
Outlets like independently-run book shops have spent days getting ready and installing protective screens.
Those based in shopping centres also received the green light as ministers accelerated the pace at which society emerges from lockdown.
In an interview for Cool FM on our Facebook show, Aodhan Connolly, Director of the NI Retail Consortium, said: "It's something we have been working towards.
"I have to pay tribute to the retailers out there.
"From the moment this happened even those who weren't open were working very very hard to try and put in measures - things like perspex screens things like little dots to where you should stand.
"So they've worked very very hard to get where we are now."
Also guesting on last night's show was Colin Neill, CEO of Hospitality Ulster.
He is hoping to have some good news soon on the re-opening of pubs and restaurants.
"We will have a raft of measures in," he said.
"We have extensive planning and guides even for somebody going to the loo.
"So we are leaving nothing to chance - we will be as covid-secure as we can be.
"But it really is now about how we save the livelihoods of people without upsetting people's lives."