Covid-19: Table service returns and no dancing in bars

It is table service only for hospitality venues under the latest Covid-19 measures

Hospitality venues across Northern Ireland will return to table service only from Monday as the latest Covid measures come into force.

A maximum of six people will be allowed to sit together at a table and dancing is prohibited, unless at a wedding.

The rules state only three households should mix and employers must work to ensure 2m social distancing in offices.

The executive announced tougher Covid-19 restrictions in a bid to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

It is understood that Omicron is now the dominant strain of Covid in Northern Ireland and makes up almost 60% of cases.

From Monday, people are being urged to limit meetings inside private homes to no more than three households, but this is guidance and people who return home over the festive period will be part of their original households.

Sporting events can continue with no limit on capacity however those travelling to and from games are asked not to car share.

The work from home message is being bolstered and legislation requires 2m social distancing in the workplace or alternative mitigations.

The rules on face coverings have been strengthened too, with some exemptions removed and a statutory duty placed on businesses to promote compliance.

The Stormont executive agreed a grant scheme to support hospitality businesses affected by the latest Covid-19 restrictions.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy said his department would offer £40m of funding for more than 3,000 businesses.

The rules surrounding wearing face coverings have been strengthened

Figures suggest that Boxing Day shopping footfall saw the largest decline since 2011.

Eugene Reid from the Ballymena Chamber of Commerce told BBC's Good Morning Ulster he thought Covid had affected footfall as there was a "bit of trepidation and nervousness" amongst shoppers.

"The traders themselves know there's nervousness amongst people who may not be going into town as much in the past," he said.

The Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Aodhán Connolly, said Covid had not started the move away from the high street but had accelerated it.

He added: "There's a bit of concern but the fact that retail is a safe environment and that it's a social thing means that while it may be reduced it won't go away".

On Sunday, nightclubs closed and large indoor standing events were prohibited.

Fresh coronavirus restrictions came into force in Wales and Scotland on the same day.

The latest regulations will be reviewed by Stormont ministers on Thursday.

Last week, health officials warned that a "significant intervention" could be needed after Christmas.

What is changing?

From 06:00 on 27 December:

• It is strongly recommended that household mixing should be reduced to a maximum of three households

• There will be a legal requirement for businesses to take reasonable measures to achieve 2m social distancing in office spaces or, where this cannot be achieved, to provide alternative mitigations

• It is strongly recommended that you should work from home where possible and where that is not possible that there should be regular workplace testing

• There will be a statutory duty on businesses to take reasonable measures to promote compliance with face coverings requirements, with a grace period until 7 January before enforcement is implemented

• The exemption from wearing a face covering where it causes severe stress will be removed and the onus of proving an exemption on medical grounds will be on the individual, with a grace period until 7 January before enforcement is implemented

• There will be a legal duty on businesses to take all reasonable steps to minimize transmission of the spread of the virus, with a grace period until 7 January before enforcement is implemented

• You will be required to be seated in all indoor hospitality settings with a maximum of six people, or 10 people from a single household, allowed at a table (children aged 12 and under are not counted and this requirement does not apply to weddings or civil partnership celebrations)

• Indoor seated and all outdoor events can proceed and it is strongly recommended that face coverings should be worn, lateral flow tests are taken before attending events and there should be no multi-household travel in the same vehicle

On Friday, a record number of Covid-19 cases were recorded by the Department of Health.

The latest figures for over the Christmas period will be available on the department's dashboard on 29 December.