Music Venues And Theatres To Reopen From 6pm Today

Music venues and theatres are allowed to re-open for live performances from 6pm today, Tuesday 27 July.

After delaying the decision last Thursday in order to consider further advice from health and scientific advisers, the NI Executive took the decision on Monday night to further ease restrictions.

The Executive has decided that the following easements will come into effect from today:

• Concert Venues, Theatres and Other Indoor Venues (seated)

Audiences will be permitted to return to performances.

Live music will be permitted for rehearsals and performances, with no restriction to background or ambient levels of volume.

Entry to performances for audiences will be by ticket only. Tickets must be purchased in advance of the performance.

Audiences for indoor events must have allocated seating and remain seated (unless using facilities) and are not permitted to dance.

Social distancing of 1 metre required.

At this time it is not possible to permit such events for other indoor facilities contained within larger premises. For example, function rooms of hotels are not included in today's decisions.

• Indoor Domestic Settings

Up to ten people from no more than three households will be allowed to meet in a home. If one household has ten members, the maximum is increased to 15 from no more than three households. Children 12 and under are not included.

• Face Coverings in places of worship

The requirement for the wearing of face coverings in places of worship, during acts of worship, will be moved from regulations into guidance only. Face coverings will still be legally required when entering and exiting the building and will be strongly advised whilst singing or moving around the premises.

• MOT Centres

The vehicle can be shared by the examiner and customer for five minutes with both wearing a face covering, for the most part the customer will be diagonally opposite the examiner while the vehicle is being driven and the examiner conducts the brake roller test. However, for the small number of two seat vehicles, the customer will be side by side with the examiner with both wearing a face covering.

The requirement for vehicle examiners to wear face coverings at all times in the test hall will be removed as this increases the risk of trips and slips in a semi-industrial environment.

Customers will be permitted to be seated safely in the test hall for approximately eight minutes, socially distanced and wearing a face covering, while the underbody inspection of the vehicle is being conducted.

The remaining issues still awaiting ratification will be discussed further at Thursday's Executive meeting when they expect to have a clearer picture of the link between cases and subsequent hospitalisation.