The grant scheme for businesses forced to close due to tightened coronavirus restrictions in the Derry City and Strabane council area is to be doubled and extended across the north, Finance Minister Conor Murphy has confirmed.
Small businesses will receive £1,600 rather than £800 for every fortnight they are closed while medium-sized businesses will receive £2,400 and larger businesses will receive £3,200. The finance minister said the scheme will cost £35 million over the four weeks and applications will open on Monday.
"I know from listening to businesses that there will be many businesses who feel excluded or left behind and who desperately need financial support. I have asked all Executive colleagues to urgently bring forward proposals for the sectors that they have direct responsibility for," Mr Murphy said.
The minister said he would continue to press the Treasury over "gaps" in the job support scheme.
The finance minister held a joint press conference with First Miniter Arlene Foster at Stormont and she offered clarification on the new restrictions which come into effect tomorrow for four weeks.
- private pre-schools, nurseries and daycare centres can stay open
- remains of the deceased can be brought to the family home, however, housheold restrictions still apply and a wake should not take place
- hotels can operate on a restricted basis for those already resident, for essential workers, vulnerable people and those in emergency situations. Hotel bars should close
- self catering and rented accommodation can remain open
- taxis can operate
- swimming pools can remain open but only for individuals, no classes can take place
- gyms can remain open, but no classes can take place. A one-to-one training session with a personal trainer is permitted
- music lessons and tuition can be provided from home
Ms Foster warned those who break the law "can expect to feel the full consequences". The new measures come into law at 6pm tomorrow.
"These are tough times as our enforcement approach is getting tougher too," she said.
"But this is not where we want to put our resources, it would be much better if we could put all of our combined effort into curbing the spread of Covid-19."
The first minister confirmed that anyone who has checked into a hotel by 6pm tomorrow will have their reservation honoured.
A further four people have died after contracting Covid-19 and 763 further cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, the Department of Health confirmed today. The death toll now stands at 606.
The total number of people who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began is 23,878 with 6,394 new positive cases - or 27% - notified in the last seven days.
Read more: Health service document at heart of lockdown planning warns of further pre-Christmas restrictions
