![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2.58765494.jpg\")
Progress in tackling Covid-19 has created enough headroom to allow for further lockdown relaxations in Northern Ireland, Michelle O\u2019Neill has said.<\/p>\nProgress in tackling Covid-19 has created enough headroom to allow for further lockdown relaxations in Northern Ireland, Michelle O\u2019Neill has said.<\/p>\n
The deputy First Minister said she was confident the power-sharing executive could agree a timetable for the reopening of more sections of society at a meeting on Thursday.<\/p>\n
First Minister Arlene Foster has already expressed hope that opening dates for close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, and non-essential retail can be announced later this week.<\/p>\n
The hospitality sector is also hopeful that it might get some good news on Thursday, particularly in respect of outdoor trading.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland took some further gradual steps out of lockdown on Monday.<\/p>\n
The remainder of post-primary students, years eight to 11, returned to schools while a limited number of outdoor-focused retail outlets, such as garden centers and car dealerships, reopened.<\/p>\n
The \u201cstay at home\u201d messaging has also been replaced with a \u201cstay local\u201d advice.<\/p>\n
At the weekend, Northern Ireland reached the milestone of one million vaccine jabs having been given.<\/p>\n
On the prospect of further announcements on Thursday, Ms O\u2019Neill told BBC Radio Ulster: \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to pre-empt the Executive decisions on Thursday, but I think it\u2019s fair to say that we\u2019re increasingly confident in our ability to be able to make more progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have, over the weekend obviously, reached the one million vaccine mark, which was obviously very encouraging and gives us great hope that we\u2019re making our way out of this pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think today is a good step forward in terms of our young people being back into our schools and a number of other areas obviously opening up.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I\u2019m hopeful that by Thursday we\u2019ll be able to announce dates for other things being able to open up because, for a combination of reasons, the factors look good where we have the headroom on which to be able to move.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vaccination program being very strong, our ICU numbers coming down, the number of positive cases coming down \u2013 that all leads to a very encouraging situation, so I\u2019d be hopeful that, with Executive colleagues\u2019 agreement, we\u2019ll be able to announce dates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Foster reiterated her hope that dates can be provided on Thursday,<\/p>\n
\u201cI very much hope that we can give an indicative timeframe on Thursday because I think there are lots of people for business reasons, for wellbeing reasons, they want to see that timetable and I hope that we can do that on Thursday,\u201d she told BBC Radio Ulster.<\/p>\n
Other relaxations on Monday saw the number of people who can meet outdoors in a garden, including children, increase from six to 10.<\/p>\n
Click-and-collect services for non-essential retail also resumed.<\/p>\n
Outdoor sports training is now allowed for recognized clubs, in groups of up to 15, provided all indoor facilities except toilets remain closed.<\/p>\n
The number of people allowed to attend marriage and civil partnership ceremonies has also increased, at a level informed by a risk assessment for the venue.<\/p>\n