Lockdown 2 for NI with tough new restrictions

It's the first day of a two-week lockdown in Northern Ireland, with tough restrictions - aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus - coming into effect at midnight.

Close contact services and non essential shops are now closed and the hospitality sector is limited to take-aways.

It's very similar measures to those introduced in back March, apart from schools which will remain open.

Essential retail like supermarkets, garden centres, and homeware stores are also allowed to stay open during the two weeks.

Click here to visit the full list and The Executive Q&A.

First Minister Arlene Foster said the fresh restrictions were necessary to drive down the rate of infection.

She added the next two weeks were critical and a huge effort was needed to keep moving in the right direction.

But there's been anger and disappointment that ministers refused to give a guarantee over whether hospitality can reopen on the 11th of December.

Arlene Foster said Stormont's chief scientific adviser Professor Ian Young had told ministers that he did not currently see a reason why measures could not be relaxed after two weeks.

Meanwhile the First and Deputy First Ministers also confirmed the roll out of a new vaccination programme.

Healthcare workers, care home residents and staff, and people aged over 80 will be first to receive the vaccine in a process that could begin next month if the required regulatory approvals are granted.

People who have signed up to become vaccinators, which include retired healthcare professionals, will also be prioritised for vaccination.

First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill outlined the timetable after receiving an update from a senior official on plans for the vaccination programme at Thursday's Executive meeting.

In the new year, other at risk groups will be vaccinated along with over-65s, with plans to vaccinate the over-50s by the spring.

It is anticipated that everyone else in the population who wants to be vaccinated will be able to access it by the summer.

Under the UK-wide vaccine distribution plan, Northern Ireland is initially set to receive 4.35 million doses.