Two local hospitality businesses have decided to close temporarily in response to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the Fermanagh area.

As covid cases once again have soared locally and nationally, management at the Lough Erne Resort announced earlier this week that a short-term ‘circuit breaker’ closure would be implemented from today (Thursday, December 30).

Meanwhile, the management team at The Crowes Nest in Enniskillen issued a statement earlier this week on Tuesday, December 28, informing customers that it would be closed from that day forward due to "a number of staff being required to self-isolate".

The General Manager of Lough Erne Resort, Joanne Walsh, said the resort management had decided a curtailing of services was the "responsible thing to do" for the health and wellbeing of its guests and staff.

She added that the situation would be kept under ongoing review, and it is anticipated the short-term ‘circuit breaker' would enable the resort to fully re-open on Wednesday, January 5.

“We trust anyone with bookings will understand the rationale behind our decision to effectively temporarily close the hotel to the public, with the exception of two weddings and our golf facilities, which will continue to be conducted, observing all relevant guidelines.

"We are aware that so many people were looking forward to an escape to the countryside over the seasonal holidays, and this news will be disappointing, but the health and wellbeing of our guests, staff and local community must be our priority in these challenging times,” said Joanne.

As such, Lough Erne Resort’s accommodation, dining facilities and Thai Spa will temporarily close to all residents from noon today, December 30.

The resort will be open to wedding guests only today, Thursday, and tomorrow, Friday, December 31.

“For anyone with a reservation for a hotel stay, spa experience, dinner booking or celebration for arrival up to Wednesday, January 5, our reservations team will be in contact as soon as possible. Due to the current high volume of incoming calls, we request that guests await our phone call.

“We would like to thank our guests and visitors for their continued support, and look forward to welcoming them back to Lough Erne Resort when we reawaken on Wednesday, January 5," said Joanne.

In a statement on social media, Feargal Shannon, General Manager of The Crowes Nest, said: "Our management team would like to inform our customers that due to short staffing levels as a result of a number of staff being required to self-isolate, we have made the decision to close The Crowes Nest until further notice.

"This is a difficult decision but we believe this precautionary measure will ensure the safety of both our staff and customers.

"We thank you for supporting local during this difficult time, and we hope to see you again in The Crowes Nest very soon," he said.

This week, medical directors of the six health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland issued a joint statement, saying that Omicron-related staff absences could seriously impact the country's health and social care system over the coming weeks.

Speaking on behalf of medical directors across the region, Dr. Seamus O’Reilly said: “We know how infectious this particular variant is and we know that case numbers are already high.

"Alongside the public health threat, we are also extremely concerned about the number of health and social care staff who might not be available to work due to Covid-19 infection or self-isolation at the very time when we will need them most.

"This could be the factor that causes most pressure on all services over the coming weeks – not just in hospitals, but also much-needed community services, and support and administrative services."

Emphasising that every action has a consequence, Dr. O’Reilly said that the best things that people can do now are to get their vaccination or their booster jab, limit their contacts over Christmas, and take lateral flow tests before meeting friends, family and loved ones.