Northern Ireland to Close Schools, Bars to Curb Virus Spread

(Bloomberg) -- Northern Ireland will introduce some of the harshest measures in Europe, including the closure of schools, bars and restaurants, to halt the coronavirus as it sweeps across the region.

The U.K. region’s power-sharing executive signed off on the measures, most of which will run for a month, on Wednesday against a backdrop on surging cases. Northern Ireland’s seven-day incidence rate has jumped to 334 per 100,000 people from 228.

“We will need to exit these arrangements most carefully,” the region’s First Minister Arlene Foster said. “We must reach a different place on both the numbers and on getting back to the basics of social distancing.”

Ireland Pushes Shared Virus Approach as Border Concerns Grow

In response, Ireland may introduce additional curbs in border regions, Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday. Three counties that border the region have among the highest infection rates in the country. While the government in the Republic is restricting travel between counties, there are no limits on a person traveling from a virus hotspot in Northern Ireland to the southern tip of the Republic 200 miles away.

Northern Ireland’s measures will include:

• Schools closing for two weeks, as the mid-term break is extended
• Takeaway only from bars, restaurants
• Liquor stores to close at 8pm
• People urged to make only essential journeys
• No indoor sport of any kind or organized contact sport involving household mixing other than at elite level

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