Covid-19: Northern Irish people tired of confinement

Audio 01:17

A man sits outside a closed bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Friday October 16, 2020. AP Photo / Peter Morrison

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

After four days of blockage within the Northern Irish coalition and 24 hours before the expiration, the Unionist and Republican parties have reached a compromise on containment: most of the restrictions are extended for a week.

It was disillusioned Northern Irish people who welcomed the measure.

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With our special

correspondent

in Belfast,  

Emeline Vin

The contaminations which are not decreasing, that worries him of course, but Hugh, a taxi driver, would have hoped to see restaurants and bars reopen this Saturday.

“ 

Our biggest customers are the people who go out to dinner, who go to bars.

This summer we had a lot of people with the financial incentives.

But today, I think I have 3 clients during the day.

Five times less than normal. 

"

Pubs and restaurants may reopen in two weeks, just one for cafes.

Student, Ilana is also fed up: “ 

I really couldn't wait to go out.

I know a bar that reopens on Fridays, they said

"we waited, waited for the government to decide, too bad, we reopen".

I can't wait for everything to reopen, I miss it, it's part of student life. 

"

The slowness of the government to take measures deeply annoys Jacquie, who has come to shop.

Hair salons are going to remain closed and yet the stores are open?"

That does not make any sense.

They should have planned more, say

"if it gets worse, this is what we do, if not, this is what we do".

The measures should have been announced since the beginning of the week, not overnight. 

"

At his side, his sister Ellen would have preferred more restrictions.

In hospitals, the services reserved for Covid patients are already saturated. 

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  • North Ireland

  • Coronavirus

  • UK

  • Confinement

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