4-Week Northern Ireland Circuit Breaker Lockdown Begins Friday

A 4-week-long circuit breaker lockdown will commence Friday in Northern Ireland, forcing pubs, restaurants and schools to close in an effort to combat spiking cases of COVID-19.

First Minister Arlene Foster disclosed the details of the circuit breaker lockdown, which will begin on 16 October, according to the Independent.

The 4-week partial “circuit breaker lockdown” will stop restaurants and pubs from opening and will ban indoor sports, close-contact services such as hairdressing and all events that allow more than 15 people to gather.

Schools will be closed by Monday and will have a lengthened half-term break. 

Northern Ireland’s circuit breaker lockdown will allow shops, takeaways and deliveries until 11 p.m., the Independent reported.

Supermarkets will be allowed to sell alcohol until 8 p.m.

Places of worship will remain open during the circuit breaker lockdown.

Gyms will remain open, but only individual training will be allowed. All organised sports will be banned, although elite sports contests will continue.

The circuit breaker lockdown means schools will be closed for two weeks, and the October half-term will be extended until 2 November, according to the Independent.

Funerals and weddings will allow a limit of 25 people, but no wedding receptions will be allowed during the circuit breaker lockdown. 

The current “no household mixing” rule will stand, and there is also a ban on overnight stays in other households without quarantining oneself overnight.

The circuit breaker lockdown announcement did not mention hotels or other accommodations, but it is believed they will be closed for a month as well, according to the BBC. 

Economy Minister Diane Dodds said she was frantically discussing with colleagues to define and simplify the new circuit breaker lockdown rules, including the possible effect on hotels, the BBC reported. 

The circuit breaker lockdown comes after Northern Ireland’s Department of Health recorded 1,217 new coronavirus cases and four additional deaths this week.

Health officials cautioned that coronavirus infections will continue to increase if schools and other nonessential businesses remain open.

There have been a total of 23,115 COVID-19 cases recorded by Northern Ireland’s Department of Health since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the BBC. But a quarter of those have been counted in the last week.

The circuit breaker lockdown is the government’s response to the rapidly rising numbers.

Northern Ireland’s Education Minister Peter Weir promised to argue any action to further the school closures longer than two weeks, the BBC reported. Weir says there is slim evidence that schools remaining open were adding to the soaring COVID-19 cases. 

Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy said his party was “content” with the circuit breaker lockdown decision to close schools for two weeks but the party was also ready to agree to longer school closures.  

There will be additional announcements on the circuit breaker lockdown rules against nonessential travel.

Additional support packages for concerned businesses who will be negatively affected by the circuit breaker lockdown will be discussed by authorities, according to the BBC.

“We fully appreciate that this will be difficult and worrying news for a lot of people,” Foster told the Stormont Assembly, according to the Daily Mail. “The executive has taken this decision because it is necessary, and we discussed the impacts in great detail. We do not take this step lightly.” 

In one area of Northern Ireland hardest-hit by COVID-19, nearly one percent of the population has been infected by the coronavirus in the last week, the Daily Mail reported. The authorities hope the new restrictions will suppress new infections from arising.

“There will be better days if people take personal responsibility for their actions,” Foster added regarding the circuit breaker lockdown. “I plead with people today, please take personal responsibility for your actions. Please work with us.”

What is your opinion about Northern Ireland’s circuit breaker lockdown? Do you think the measures are too restrictive or do you think they are necessary? Tell us in the comments section below.

Read More Lawsuit & Settlement News:

Hospitality Firms May Take Legal Action Over COVID-19 Restrictions

Three-Tier COVID-19 Restrictions Draw Mixed Response

British Dental Association Data Breach Group Action Open Claim

Vaginal Mesh Injury Group Action Open Claim