Council Chair encourages people to shop safely while supporting local with easing of Covid-19 restrictions 

10th December 2020

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Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Diana Armstrong, is encouraging people to keep safe while supporting local this festive season as the retail sector reopens following the easing of the Covid-19 ‘circuit breaker’ restrictions introduced by the NI Executive at the end of November.

Speaking about the easing of restrictions, Councillor Armstrong, said:

“While I welcome the reopening of the retail sector and close contact businesses and the partial reopening of hospitality, I am mindful that while we are undoubtedly making progress in the battle to curb the spread of the coronavirus, we are not there yet.

I urge everyone to shop local this Christmas and support the businesses who play such a key role in our local communities and our economy, providing much needed employment in our district.

Our local shops and businesses have put measures in place to help people feel safe while shopping, however everyone needs to play their part.  I encourage everyone to continue to follow Covid-19 guidance at all times to ensure that we can all shop safely during what is traditionally the busiest time of the year for retail and hospitality. Where possible, plan your shopping at quieter times of the day and always follow Covid-19 guidance by wearing face coverings where necessary, maintaining social distancing and washing or sanitising hands regularly to help limit the spread of Covid-19 within our local communities.

Many of our local shops and businesses also offer click and collect, order by telephone or delivery service and I would encourage people to use these services where available.

The start of the roll-out of the vaccine programme has undoubtedly given us all cause for hope and we now see a light at the end of the tunnel. I would like to offer my best wishes to Margaret Keenan, the first person in the UK to receive the vaccine on Tuesday in Coventry. Of course, Margaret is a proud Fermanagh woman and I wish her well.”