Dates set for lifting Northern Ireland's lockdown rules
Lockdown restrictions brought in from Boxing day are to be eased in two waves, it has emerged.
The rule of six for hospitality in Northern Ireland will be abandoned from Friday January 21.
Other changes to Northern Ireland's restrictions include ditching the requirement for table service from the same date, while nightclubs can reopen from Wednesday January 26 at noon.
Stormont ministers met today (Thursday) to discuss Northern Ireland's current restrictions.
The changes come as health officials reported the latest Omicron wave is coming to an end, however, today it emerged there have been two further covid-related deaths and 3,879 confirmed cases of the virus were also recorded in the latest 24-hour reporting period.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said although the peak of the latest surge is passing, there is no room for complacency.
She said: "The pandemic is far from over but we are cautiously optimistic.
"We believe we are through the peak and we believe we have some space now to be able to reverse the protections that we put in place over the course of the last number of weeks.
"It is a positive picture but I would ask people not to be complacent yet, we still have a journey to travel."
Changes to coronavirus self-isolation rules in Northern Ireland announced on Wednesday will apply from Friday, January 21. The self-isolation period will reduce from seven days to five.
Some NI restrictions will ease from Friday January 21, while a second raft of measures change on Wednesday January 26 ⬇️
Nightclubs can open from noon on Wednesday January 26.
Dancing at indoor events can resume from the same date.
A cap on indoor gatherings at home will be removed.
From January 21, the rule of six and the table service only rules will be dropped.
From January 26, covid passports will only be needed to get into nightclubs or venues with over 500 people inside.
The guidance on work from home will become, work from home IF you can. workplaces, the requirement for offices to take reasonable steps for 2m distancing will be removed. workplaces, the requirement for offices to take reasonable steps for 2m distancing will be removed. workplaces, the requirement for offices to take reasonable steps for 2m distancing will be removed. In workplaces, 2m social distancing requirement will be removed.
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