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Schools to close for two weeks and further restrictions on hospitality expected to be announced

A late-night sitting of the Stormont Executive yielded further restrictions across Northern Ireland, which are expected to be announced later this morning (Wednesday).

Schools are expected to close for two weeks, from Monday, in a bid to help slow the rise of Covid-19 cases.

READ: The CONFIRMED restrictions from the Executive here.

It comes on the back of seven further deaths announced by the Department of Health on Tuesday.

Hospitality has been further affected as they will now only be allowed to offer takeaway services for four weeks from Friday.

BBC News NI has revealed a list of restrictions expected to be implemented in the assembly this morning, which is to reconvene at 10.30am.

They include:

– Other fast-food and takeaway premises will also have to close at 11pm

– Off-licences and supermarkets will be told not to sell alcohol after 8pm

– No indoor sport of any kind or organised contact sport involving mixing of households other than at elite level

– Close contact services – apart from those meeting essential health needs – will have to close, but businesses will be defined under the regulations

– Mobile hairdressers and make-up artists – also classed as close contact services – will be prohibited from providing their services in people’s homes

– Gyms can remain open but only for individual training – no classes will be permitted

– Places of worship can remain open but face coverings will be mandatory when entering and exiting the venue

BBC News is also reporting that weddings and civil ceremonies in Northern Ireland will be limited down to 25 people, from Monday, with no receptions permitted.

Confirmation on the restrictions will be officially announced later today.

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