Alistair Bushe, Editor
Dear reader,
I don't think any of us in Northern Ireland will forget December 2020 in a hurry.
As the month progressed, we endured both a tightening and relaxation of the coronavirus restrictions, before it was confirmed that a full six-week lockdown would commence across the whole of Northern Ireland on December 26.
Christmas was certainly drastically different to years gone by. At one point the Stormont Executive, along with the government at Westminster, was prepared to allow much more flexibility for families over Christmas, but as Covid infection rates climbed, those plans were shelved. Mixing indoors was allowed for a limited period.
Coronavirus wasn't the only story dominating our news agenda during the month.
December was a dramatic month in terms of Brexit with the transition period ending on December 31 and the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol coming into effect.
In this article published on our website last month, we explained what the Protocol is, and some of the likely effects of the regulatory sea border that has been created in the Irish Sea.
One of our most read articles last month was a story breaking the news that two prominent companies, DPD Ireland, and Hermes, had suspended deliveries to Northern Ireland.
As we know now, the worst fears about the impact of the protocol have already been realised, with Sam McBride, our political editor, reporting just last week that many of Northern Ireland's big supermarkets have seen empty shelves with big products vanishing.
All of us were surely to see the back of 2020. As I described in earlier newsletters, our whole team had to become accustomed to a new way of working, either in our kitchens, studies, living rooms or bedrooms.
The sense of isolation wasn't easy to adjust to but we are conscious that during this dreadful pandemic, it's been far worse for many who have lost loved ones. And grumbles about working from home and missing the office pale into comparison with our brave healthcare staff who have devoted so many hours to saving lives from Covid-19.
Thankfully, despite the challenges, we have still managed to bring the news to you, our readers, with our website showing a real growth in subscribers over the course of the year. Thanks to everyone who has supported us, I hope you are enjoying our coverage of the issues that matter to you.
Here is to a better 20201.
Regards,
Alistair Bushe,
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