A new lockdown will begin in the country beginning from December 26 and will last for at least six weeks.
All non-essential shops in Northern Ireland will close from the end of trading on Christmas Eve and will not reopen for at least six weeks. The first week of the lockdown, running until January 2 will also see tighter measures in place for essential shops, with a closing time of 8pm being enforced. Hair dressers will also have to close their doors again while pubs, cafes and restaurants will be limited to takeaway services only.
Garden centres and homeware stores, that were previously deemed as essential, will also be forced to close, along with the leisure and entertainment sector and click-and-collect services will not be permitted.
Once again, people are being urged not to leave their homes unless it is absolutely essential, in the latest bid to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
