NI's six-week lockdown begins
It starts with one week of the toughest measures
Last updated 26th Dec 2020
A new and strict lockdown that will extend until February 2021 has begun today, Boxing Day.
It means, on this traditionally busy shopping day, that non-essential retail is shut, while it will be take-away only for a normally booming festive hospitality sector. Close contact services like hair and beauty are also unable to open.
The six-week long period comes amid concerns over a new covid strain which is said to be more transmissible.
Stormont's chief scientific adviser has said Northern Ireland would have witnessed thousands of Covid-19 deaths if no action had been taken to suppress the coronavirus.
Professor Ian Young has said the already over-capacity health service would have been completely swamped in January.
He warned the number of Covid-19 inpatients would have soared to between 3,000 and 4,000 by the end of the month if no action had been taken.
Week one:
During the first week of the lockdown, there's a curfew for all businesses that CAN open, of 8pm.
That curfew also applies to people - we're told to stay at home past that time, unless we cannot for work or caring duties.
You can't meet anyone who is not from your household, inside or outside.
Organised sport is also cancelled during this first seven-day period, and elite athletes are included in that prohibition.
The six-week period's rules include:
All non-essential retail is closed.
Hospitality is take-away only.
Leisure facilities are shut, including gyms. Sport is also off.
No change to school timetables.
Off-licences forced to shut at 8pm.
Hotels will be opened until December 28 to accommodate Christmas bookings.
Dog grooming still open.
Car washes closed.