DUBLIN (GERMANY) – Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill announced on Thursday that Northern Ireland will set out on a six-week lockdown from December 26 in a bid to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The British region has been intermittently going into lockdown since mid-October when it was one of Europe’s worst COVID-19 hotbeds. The most recent curbs were relaxed last week, when all shops, restaurants and pubs serving food reopened.
O’Neill told journalists that all non-essential shops, pubs, bars and restaurants will close on Dec. 26. Takeaway food services have been exempted.
“It will be disappointing to many, but I think a lot of people would also have expected it. It’s very clear that we needed an urgent intervention. I think this is the right decision by the executive,” she said.
Northern Ireland on Thursday reported 656 new COVID-19 cases, which is the highest number in five weeks. A total of 1,154 people have passed away in Northern Ireland within 28 days of being diagnosed with COVID-19.
The neighbouring Republic of Ireland has the lowest number of cases of any country in the European Union.