A decision on whether border counties will be moved to higher restrictions is expected later today.
The NI Assembly will bring in a 'circuit breaker' lockdown from Friday, First Minister Arlene Foster has confirmed.
She announced the move in a statement and said that the half-term holiday break for schools will be extended from 19 to 30 October.
As part of the measures, the hospitality sector will close except for takeaways, while off licenses will shut after 8pm and no more than 25 people are allowed at weddings and funerals.
The Derry and Strabane Council area has been experiencing the highest infection rate in the UK and Ireland, with a seven day average of 970 cases per 100,000 people.
According to the BBC, the restrictions which will last until November the 2nd, include:
- Household bubbles must be no bigger than 10 people from two households
- Closure of "close contact services"
- Indoor sport of all kinds suspended, apart from at an elite level
- Mass events involving more than 15 people are to be banned
- Off licenses and supermarkets will not be permitted to sell alcohol after 8pm
- Gyms to remain open for individual training
- Places of worship to remain open, as long as face coverings are worn
- Wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships to be limited to 25 people with no receptions from 19 October
- Funerals and committals to be limited to 25 people with no pre or post-funeral gatherings
Meanwhile the Irish Government is set to announce whether the five border counties will move up to higher restrictions today, following the announcement in the North.
Earlier this morning, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the Irish government was monitoring the situation.
”We do our best to cooperate and coordinate as much as we possibly can”, he said.
”And obviously as your listeners would know, the incidence of the virus in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan in particular is very very high.
”So we’ll have to make a decision probably some time today as to whether we’ll have to respond with increased measures in the border counties as well.”
More to follow...
