Wet pubs to open again next week while parts of Co Armagh join the 'restricted' postcode list
Non-food serving pubs across Northern Ireland will have to wait now until Wednesday before re-opening for the first time since lockdown.
The so-called 'wet' bars were working to an initial indicative date of Monday but the Executive said yesterday that would now be delayed by two days.
Enforceable regulations will be passed.
Venues will be required to identify the number of people who can safely be accommodated in line with social distancing requirements, and must clearly display this figure in the premises. All service will be seated at tables.
Meanwhile, new coronavirus restrictions to the BT60 area, which covers parts of Co Armagh, including Keady, have also been agreed by Stormont ministers.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill tweeted after the meeting: "We are moving in the wrong direction, the virus is spreading but we can reverse this trend.
"By following advice, we can support our health workers and save lives.''
In a written statement to the Assembly, Health Minister Robin Swann said the restrictions for BT60 will be effective from Friday (September 18).
"It is expected that the impact of these restrictions on transmission will take around two weeks to become apparent,'' he said.
"These restrictions will be retained only as long as they are deemed necessary and proportionate.
"However I would remind members that local restrictions may need to be introduced urgently in further areas in response to spikes in incidence. I will endeavour to try to keep the House informed of those decisions, even through regular short written statements.''
There have been a further 149 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the last 24-hours, the Department of Health has said.
This brings the total number of cases to 8,780, including 689 in the last seven days.
No further deaths were reported on Thursday.
Coronavirus restrictions in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland subjected to localised measures became legally enforceable by police on Wednesday and repeat offenders face fines of up to #960.
The current estimate of the virus' reproductive rate is 1.2.
The average number of new positive tests per day during the last seven days was 90 and incidence based on new positive tests was 33 per 100,000.
Chief scientific adviser Professor Ian Young said: "Over the last week, we have seen a plateauing in cases and an increase in hospital admissions.''
The seven-day average number of Covid-occupied beds increased from 16 to 21.
He added the proportion of cases in individuals aged more than 60 years has risen from under 10% to just under 16%, but remains significantly below wave one of the epidemic where around half of cases were in this age group.
"The current increase in cases in younger people is likely to lead to increasing cases in the over-60s with resulting pressure on the hospital system and, tragically, increasing deaths.''
Hospitality Ulster chief Colin Neill has welcomed the re-opening date for non-food pubs as a "vital lifeline'' for hundreds of businesses.
"Although it is two days after the intended date, we recognise that it is better to delay by a couple of days to get the new regulations right to support a Covid-secure environment,'' he said.
"For the hundreds of businesses and thousands of employees, this news will be a vital lifeline and will hopefully reassure those who were concerned for their future.''
Around 600 bars in Northern Ireland do not serve food.