Northern Ireland has announced a four week lockdown with an extended Halloween break for schools to curb the spread of Covid-19.
First Minister Arlene Foster has made the announcement in the last few minutes at a special sitting of the Assembly.
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.
Arlene Foster says the measures will come into effect this Friday with schools closed until the 2nd of November:
Border counties are expected to be upgraded to Level Four restrictions in response to changes in the North. There's concern about an increasing number of cases in the region with a "spill-over" effect being blamed.
Cavan yesterday saw 22 new cases, with fewer than five in Monaghan - a full breakdown of county figures is no longer released.
Cavan has the highest 14-day incidence rate in the country at 412.2 per 100,000. Monaghan has the third highest rate at 312.8.
The government will make a decision later today on whether to impose tougher Covid-19 restrictions in border counties.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says once an announcement is made, the Irish government will make a decision on border counties:
