New Year’s Eve parties 2021 could be ‘super-spreaders’ warns Health Minister

The Minister urged strict adherence to the Covid-19 rules this week – and throughout the remainder of the north’s six week ‘lockdown’.

Additional restrictions are in place until January 2, including the closure of essential and non-essential retail and a curfew in place from 8pm to 6am in the north.

In Donegal and across the Republic meanwhile a ban on inter-county travel has come into effect under Level 5 restrictions, except for those returning post-Christmas to their place of residence, or those who need to travel for work, education or other essential purposes, until January 12 at least.

Restrictions on gatherings have also come into force on both sides of the borer.

Mr Swann said: “We need another huge collective effort across society to push down Covid infection rates. We do that by reducing our contacts with others, by staying at home, by keeping our distance from others if we need to be outdoors for good reason, and by wearing a face covering and washing our hands. This will save lives and ease the pressures on our health service at this most challenging time.

“I know how tough 2020 has been and how fed up we all are with this virus. But I am confident we can all pull together once again at this critical time. 2021 is a year of renewed hope with the vaccine roll-out. We need a concerted and united push in the next few months to get us to a better place.”

He added: “Please don’t be tempted to visit friends this week. A New Year’s Eve house party would not just be against the law. It could be a super-spreader event, could leave people very seriously ill and could even cost lives.”

The following measures in the north will be in place for the next six weeks.

Households:

Households are not allowed to mix indoors in private homes. Certain exemptions apply, including: bubbling with one other household; childcare; building or maintenance work; the services of trades or professions (close contact services are not allowed); providing care or assistance, including social services, to a vulnerable person; giving or receiving legal advice or assistance, or fulfilling a legal obligation; providing emergency or medical assistance to any person; a house move, and to do associated activities for that purpose, including viewing properties and making arrangements for removals; a marriage or civil partnership where one of the couple is terminally ill; Children whose parents do not live in the same household can move between homes as normal.

Gardens:

Up to six people from no more than two households can meet up outdoors in a private garden, but you should maintain social distancing. Children aged 12 and under are not counted in this total.

Household bubbles

You can form one bubble with one other household.

The two households in the bubble can be of any size, however indoor meetings between households in the bubble are limited to a maximum of 10 people, including children, at any one time.

A household cannot be part of more than one bubble. Therefore, members of the two households within a bubble will not be permitted to have close contact with visitors from a third household. They should maintain social distancing from people outside of their bubble.

If anyone within your bubble develops symptoms, all members of the bubble should self-isolate.

Particular care needs to be taken if any member is regarded as a vulnerable person in terms of the virus, which may include the elderly or those with other health conditions.

If a household wishes to change the household that they bubble with, the household must wait 10 days from the last visit of the original linked household before starting a new bubble with another household.

Overnight stays

An overnight stay in a private home is not allowed unless it is a member of your bubble.

Exemptions, including for emergency reasons, are detailed in the regulations.

Indoor and outdoor gatherings (excluding private dwellings, weddings, and funerals)

Up to 15 people can meet outdoors, or in non-domestic indoor settings, such as a community hall. You should maintain social distancing by being at least two metres apart, as well as good hand and respiratory hygiene practices.

You may not organise, operate or participate in an indoor or outdoor gathering which consists of more than 15 people.

The following exemptions apply: a gathering in a workplace, if it is not possible to work at home; a gathering to provide emergency or medical assistance to any person; elite sports (not spectators); Medically-vulnerable and older people; Medically-vulnerable and older people are asked to be particularly careful in following the advice on limiting household contacts, social distancing, hand washing and wearing a face covering.

Travel

You should avoid all unnecessary travel. Where travel is necessary for work, education and other essential purposes, people are asked to walk, cycle or use private transport, shared only with members of their household where possible.

Safer travel guidance for public transport users, walkers, cyclists, drivers

Face coverings: The use of face coverings is mandatory on public transport, in taxis, private buses, coaches and on aircraft, in train and bus stations and in airports. This includes: boarding any mode of public transport; when on board any mode of public transport; and when present on public transport premises or stops.

Childcare

Childcare can continue to be provided by a person registered in accordance with the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 or any childcare provided free of charge.Informal childcare arrangements are also permitted to continue.

Hospitals

Hospital visits are currently restricted. Certain exceptions include: a birth partner supporting a woman during certain hospital visits; for a person receiving end-of-life (palliative) care; to accompany a baby/ child (paediatrics/ neonatal) in hospital; for patients with dementia or a learning disability. You are recommended to check before you visit, as these exceptions are subject to change depending on prevailing circumstances in particular settings.

Care homes

Care home visits are recommended to be restricted, with the exception of palliative care facilities and those who are receiving end of life care. You are recommended to check arrangements with the care home.

Hospitality and accommodation

Hospitality venues such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs must remain closed, with the exception of providing food and drink for takeaway, drive-through or delivery.

Businesses providing takeaway services must close at 11.00 pm and off-sales must stop at 8.00 pm. Outdoor areas are not permitted to be used.

The provision of food and drink in motorway services, airports and harbour terminals is allowed.

Accommodation

Hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfast establishments, hostels and caravan sites and self-catering accommodation will only be able to operate on a restricted basis.

Accommodation can be provided for those already resident; for work-related purposes; for vulnerable people; for those in emergency situations; and people unable to return to their main address.

Entertainment, leisure activities and cultural attractions

Leisure and entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, inflatable parks, go-karting venues, soft play centres, fairgrounds and funfairs, indoor museums, galleries, visitor and other cultural attractions are not permitted to open.

Outdoor visitor attractions are not permitted to open, along with drive-in events.

Outdoor parks, play areas, outdoor areas of properties operated by the National Trust and the outdoor areas of stately homes, historic homes and castles are permitted to remain open.

Community halls are allowed to remain open, but must adhere to current guidelines.

Libraries are allowed to provide ‘call and collect’ services, and access to the internet.

Theatres and concert halls are permitted to open for rehearsals or a live recording without an audience.

Business

Individuals should work from home unless unable to do so.

Those who cannot work from home, for example, workers in food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics or distribution can continue to go to work.

Close contact services

Close contact services, such as hairdressers, beauticians, make-up and nails, tattoo and piercing parlours, tanning shops, massage, electrolysis, well-being and holistic treatments, and driving instructors (except for motorcycles) are not permitted to operate.

This also applies to those who provide mobile close contact services from their homes and in other people’s homes, those in retail environments, as well as those studying hair and beauty in vocational training environments.

Exemptions apply for film and TV production; for services ancillary to medical, health and social care services; and sports massage and therapeutic services for elite athletes.

Retail and services

To reduce social contact, the regulations require some businesses to close and impose restrictions on how some businesses provide goods and services.

Closure of all retail businesses except for essential retail.

Click/phone and collect facilities will not be permitted for non-essential retail businesses, however delivery is allowed.

Retail premises can only remain open if the business is wholly or mainly an essential retail business. Where an essential retail business has another, separate business embedded within it that is required to close, the embedded business must close.

An essential retail business may also continue to sell goods typically sold by non-essential retail businesses. For example, a supermarket that sells food is not required to close off or cordon off aisles selling accessories.

Essential retail businesses include, but are not limited to: food retailers, supermarkets, convenience stores, off licences and newsagents

pharmacies and chemists; fuel suppliers; building supplies and hardware stores (equipment for building maintenance and repairs - such as keys, locks, nuts, screws, washers, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, belts, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, tools, and machine parts); bicycle shops

agricultural supplies shops and livestock markets; motor vehicle repair shops; banks, building societies and credit unions; post offices; funeral directors; laundrettes and dry cleaners; dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services; veterinary surgeons, dog groomers and pet shops; Off-licences and supermarkets are not permitted to sell alcohol after 8.00 pm.

It is mandatory to wear a face covering when shopping.

An essential retail business may be operated from a market stall, and may continue to trade as such.

Car boot sales and car washes are not permitted.

Garden centres and homeware stores must remain closed.

Car washes are only permitted to open for the cleaning and disinfection of vehicles for the purposes of food safety, infection control or animal disease control. No domestic vehichles.

Other services

Household waste and recycling centres are permitted to remain open.

Work carried out in private homes

Unless they are specifically required to close under the regulations, workers, builders, tradespeople and other professionals can continue to go into people’s houses to carry out work such as repairs, installations and deliveries.

Music lessons and private tutoring are permitted, as long as social distancing is maintained and there is no close contact.

Sports

Indoor and outdoor sport is not permitted, other than at elite level.

Elite training and competition can continue, both indoors and outdoors.

Elite sporting events must be held behind closed doors without spectators.

The definition of an elite athlete is set out in the regulations(external link opens in a new window / tab).

Horse racing can take place behind closed doors, in line with the elite sport regulations and animal welfare considerations.

All sports facilities such as leisure centres, gyms, health clubs, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses, fitness and dance studios must close.

Other exercise facilities, including activity centres, equestrian centres (access for the purpose of animal welfare is permitted), marinas, and venues relating to motor sport and water sport must also remain closed.

Only individual or household outdoor exercise is permitted. Physical activity such as walking, running, cycling, horse riding, or just walking the dog, bring many health benefits.

You cannot participate in personal one-to-one training sessions or group activities such as running or cycling.

Physical education delivered by or for schools, pre-schools and other education providers is permitted to continue.

Religious services

Places of worship are permitted to open in line with relevant guidance.

Numbers attending acts of worship will be determined by the risk assessment. A limit of 15 applies to other activities being held in a place of worship (with the exemption of weddings and funerals).

It is mandatory to wear face coverings inside the building and when entering and exiting. This does not apply to the person leading worship or to a couple who are at a ceremony to solemnise their marriage or to form their civil partnership. Face covering exemptions also apply.

Social distancing and appropriate protective measures are of vital importance.

If several religious services being held on same day in same venue thorough cleaning is required between services.

All surfaces, especially those most frequently touched such as door handles and rails, should be regularly cleaned using standard cleaning products. Sufficient time needs to be allowed for this cleaning to take place. Particular attention should be given to frequently used objects, surfaces or spaces, including for example doorways between outside and inside spaces.

After all necessary cleaning has taken place there should be a minimum 15 minute interval before the next service being held. It is important that the space is well ventilated at all times, by leaving doors and windows open.

Marriages and civil partnerships

Marriages and civil partnerships ceremonies are limited to 25 people. This number includes children under 12 and the celebrant.

A risk assessment for over 15 people is required.

Face masks must be worn by all other than those party to the marriage.

Receptions or post ceremony gatherings are not permitted.

Funerals

Funerals are limited to 25 people.

Pre and post-funeral gatherings are not permitted.

The remains of the deceased may be taken back to private homes, but wakes are not to be held and funeral services in private homes are not to take place.

Existing restrictions on households apply.

Any mourner displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend a funeral, as they pose a risk to others.

Full details of the Covid-19 regulations are available via: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-what-restrictions-mean-you