Two metre distance rule reduced to one metre

THE two metre social distancing rule has been offically reduced to one metre.

First Minister Arlene Foster confirmed the reduction today and added that the reduced distance was subject to mitigations.

She told a Covid-19 briefing at Stormont, “Everybody’s objective should be to stay two metres apart from those from other households wherever possible.

“Northern Ireland is opening up again, however there is an onus on all of us not to ease the fight and vigilance against Covid-19,” she added.

She explained that this is an important move to support the hospitality sector.

 Mrs Foster also announced dates for the reopening of gyms, leisure centres, libraries and the resumption of competitive sport.

She said, “Some of the proposed areas incorporated in the timetable include betting shops from July 3, additional close contact services, such as tattoo parlours, reflexology and complementary therapies from July 6, indoor gyms and outdoor playgrounds from the July 10 and libraries from July 16.”

Competitive sport can resume from July 17, with leisure centres and soft play areas allow to reopen from August 7.

The move comes just days after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the rule change in England.

Earlier today, the Department of Health confirmed that no further coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours, and one confirmed case of the virus.