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Localized Covid-19 restrictions are causing frustration and confusion, business leaders in the North have said.<\/p>\nLocalized Covid-19 restrictions are causing frustration and confusion, business leaders in the North have said.<\/p>\n
Measures limiting social interaction between households amid soaring Covid-19 infection rates in areas like Belfast and Ballymena were announced on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Eugene Reid represents traders in the Co Antrim market town.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThere is an element of frustration because the vast majority of people are doing their utmost to adhere to regulations on social distancing and wearing a mask.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is frustration because we keep getting mentioned in dispatches.\u201d<\/p>\n
The acting president of Ballymena Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry said nobody who asked him for clarification was saying they were not going to abide by the restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are more than willing to do it because they see that it will work but it is just around the clarity of the messaging.\u201d<\/p>\n
People living in the Belfast council area, Ballymena town and postcode areas BT43, BT28 and BT29 have been given guidance discouraging non-essential journeys outside the affected zones.<\/p>\n
There will also be new legally-enforceable social restrictions \u2013 residents in these areas cannot visit other households.<\/p>\n
Exceptions include those in a social bubble with one other household and those with caring responsibilities including childcare.<\/p>\n
No more than six people, from no more than two households, will be permitted to meet in private gardens.<\/p>\n
The restrictions will be in place for a minimum of two weeks.<\/p>\n
Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster has said in the areas impacted the case numbers were double or treble Northern Ireland\u2019s average.<\/p>\n
She added there was a need to \u201cpush down on the rising curve of infection\u201d.<\/p>\n
The McKeever Hotel Group includes the Adair Arms in Ballymena.<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman said the changes were of concern.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThe ground will continuously shift and we are trying to do our best to muddle through and help people to do their best to support the industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll we can do is put our best foot forward and make sure our safety protocols are in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last thing we want is to put anyone at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Antrim MP Ian Paisley told the BBC\u2019s The View program he was disappointed.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe can\u2019t close our country down because of Covid.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the same Stormont executive meeting, ministers decided that pubs that do not serve food can provisionally aim to reopen on September 21st.<\/p>\n
Pubs that do serve food were able to reopen at the start of July.<\/p>\n