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A business owner in the border area has expressed concern that retail outlets in Northern Ireland will remain open while they shut in the Republic.<\/p>\nA business owner in the border area has expressed concern that retail outlets in Northern Ireland will remain open while they shut in the Republic.<\/p>\n
Non-essential retail outlets will close from midnight on Wednesday when Ireland goes into a second lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
But they will remain open in Northern Ireland, which has caused concern for business owners in border areas.<\/p>\n
Martin Travers, the owner of Petals Flowers in the Clanbrassil Centre, Dundalk, said he found the situation \u201chard to grasp.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe restrictions and that is very hard on us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t understand how the retail in the North is allowed to open and their infection rate is the same as up here.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe population is far lower in the North and the retail is allowed to open in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they\u2019ll be able to still travel from Northern Ireland into the Republic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about the impact of the new restrictions on his business, Mr Travers replied: \u201cIt will just flatten it to the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Travers started his business 26 years ago and runs the shop by himself.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThere were tough times then too, but we\u2019ve never seen anything as tough as this.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just hard to grasp that the retail in the North is allowed to open and we have to close in the Republic.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIt\u2019s hard to know what to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just hope that the infection rate will drop when the restrictions come in and that we\u2019ll get back open for Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all we can really do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might change but nobody knows with the infection, how it will spread.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still mightn\u2019t get it open for Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith any business, we just hope that the vaccine will come quickly and we\u2019ll be able to get back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n