The Government is urging the public to prove we can reopen safely this weekend.

Cafés, restaurants and gastropubs have reopened their doors for the first time in six weeks today as Level Five restrictions continue to be eased.

That followed the reopening of shops, gyms, hairdressers and a range of other businesses on Monday.

Reopening

Government official Elizabeth Canavan said people must prove the reopening can safe.

“We are all eager to get out and do out shopping, sample the seasonal atmosphere, meet our friends, go to the cinema, visit a library or get to the gym,” she said.

“But it is a big weekend in another way as well. It is a weekend where we need to prove to ourselves and one another that we can do these things safely.

“I said it on Monday and I will be saying it from now on until Christmas so sorry about that but every contact counts.”

Businesses

She acknowledged the hard work businesses have put in over recent weeks to ensure their premises are safe – and urged them to do everything they can to protect their customers in the coming weeks.

“We have an opportunity to showcases how well we can do this,” she said. “But it means everyone has to step up.”

“At an individual level, think about what you can do. If you are a business, you know what to do and if you are having difficulty controlling the situation, do the brave thing, look for help, close your business if the congregation is getting too much and work with other local businesses.

“Let’s all work together to make this reopening sustainable.”

Christmas

People are still asked not to travel outside their counties – and are not permitted to visit each other’s homes, under the regulations.

Those rules are set to be relaxed on December 18th, when up to people from up to three households will be allowed to gather in the home.