Executive to discuss theatre reopening & increasing household visitors
Last updated 26th Jul 2021
Stormont ministers will meet later to consider further Covid-19 relaxations for Northern Ireland and discuss ways to tackle the region's spiralling health waiting lists.
The virtual executive meeting will re-examine a number of decisions that were postponed last week amid concerns about rising infection numbers.
These "moderate'' risk moves include allowing theatres and concert halls to welcome back audiences and increasing the limit on gatherings in indoor domestic settings from six to 10, from no more than three households.
Ministers will also consider whether to lift current restrictions on MoT test centres.
An easing of the requirement for face coverings in places of worship is also set to be discussed, with the potential this will be relaxed so people will only have to wear them entering and exiting the buildings.
The decisions will be taken during at an executive meeting that was already scheduled to discuss Northern Ireland's waiting list crisis.
The region has the worst waiting list times in the UK.
There are currently more than 335,000 waiting on a first consultant-led appointment, with some facing waits of up to seven years for treatment.
The waiting lists have led to increased pressures on emergency departments across the region, as patients attempt to seek treatment via A&Es.
Those pressures have been exacerbated by increased numbers of Covid-19 admissions and on Sunday two health trusts, the Belfast and South Eastern, issued an emergency call out for off-duty staff to come in to help deal with the worsening situation inside hospitals.
Two further relaxations of Covid-19 rules were agreed by ministers last week and those come into effect on Monday.
A cap limiting the number of households allowed to participate in 15-person outdoor domestic gatherings has been removed and close contact services, such as hairdressers, are now able to accept walk-in customers.
Moves considered moderate and higher risk were delayed last week pending an update from health officials on the latest wave of Covid-19.
Ministers were due to be presented with more data on the link between positive cases and hospital admissions before reconvening to reconsider those decisions.
While the moderate steps will be considered during Monday afternoon's meeting, ministers will convene again on Thursday to consider the higher risk relaxations.
These include lifting restrictions on indoor live music, including a proposal to end a requirement for the sound to be kept to an ambient level.
The resumption of conferences and exhibitions will also be considered on Thursday, as will a proposal to end social distancing requirements for outdoor activities and reduce the distance to one metre for indoor settings.
Arts and music venues
Audiences will be able to return to seated theatres and concert halls and other such venues. Entry to performances for audiences will be by ticket only. Audiences for indoor events must have allocated seating and remain seated. Social distancing of 1m will be required.
Conferences and exhibitions can resume.
In Concert venues, theatres and other indoor venues, live music will be permitted for rehearsals and performances with no restriction to background or ambient levels of volume. Tickets must be purchased in
Audiences for indoor events must have allocated seating and remain seated (unless using facilities) and are not permitted to dance. Social distancing of 1m will be required.
Domestic settings
In indoor domestic settings a maximum of ten people from no more than three households will be permitted. If one household has ten or more members, the maximum is increased to 15 from no more than three households. Children aged 12 and under are not counted in the total number.
At outdoor domestic settings a maximum of 15 people from an unlimited number of households will be permitted. Children aged 12 and under are not counted in the total number.
As a consequence of these relaxations for indoor and outdoor domestic settings, the linked households/bubble provision will be removed from regulation.
Close contact services
Within close contact services the requirement for an appointment will be removed and overlapping appointments will be allowed.
Social distancing
Where a legal requirement to socially distance exists it will be reduced to 1 metre for indoors activities and removed for all outdoor activities. It is still recommended that social distancing at 2 metres is maintained where possible and if not, a minimum of 1 metre is facilitated for indoors events.
Public transport is exempt from the social distancing requirement however guidance is that it should be 1m unless not possible, in which case other mitigations must be in place.
MOT centres
MOT centres can resume normal services. This will allow the customer to be present in the testing hall and to take their vehicle through the process with the examiner. The requirement for vehicle examiners to wear face coverings at all times in the test hall will be removed.
Places of worship
The requirement for the wearing of face coverings in places of worship will move from regulations into guidance only.
Schools
For the new school year, school "bubbles" and the requirement to wear face coverings in the classroom will be removed from guidance. This includes a full return of extracurricular and support activities and youth services.
International travel
In relation to international travel we have decided that from 26 July arrivals from amber list countries who have been fully vaccinated in the UK will not have to self-isolate or take a day 8 test post-arrival.
The definition for a 'fully vaccinated' traveller is someone who:
• has completed a full course of vaccination, whether that requires two doses or one dose (according to the MHRA authorised schedule as approved by MHRA and/or EMA); and
• has completed the full course of vaccination at least 14 days previously.
We have agreed three cohorts who should be exempt from these measures (i.e. treated as if they are fully vaccinated):
• Clinical trial participants
• Children under 18
• Those with medical advice against vaccination.
These groups would still need to complete a PLF, pre-departure testing and day 2 post arrival testing. Further work is required on the specifics as well as on how to certify these exemptions.