Northern Ireland begins two-week ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown today

Northern Ireland has today been plunged into lockdown again with non-essential shops, hair salons and cafes closing their doors for the next two weeks.

The country officially entered a new ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown overnight, just a week after coming out of another limited lockdown.

The country was poised to emerge from the limited circuit-breaker last week.

But the number of infections rose as the lockdown came to an end last Friday, sparking ministers to warn that the health service was in danger of being overwhelmed.

The new circuit breaker is expected to last until December 11. 

Most of the hospitality sector has now been forced to close again, after cafes and close contact services were allowed to open last Friday. 

Non-essential retail and services like hairdressers and beauticians have also all had to close again.

Most of the hospitality sector has now been forced to close again, after cafes were allowed to open last Friday following another circuit breaker lockdown

Schools and childcare services will remain open, as well as churches for individual prayer. 

Takeaway hospitality will be allowed, but leisure and entertainment venues will be closed.

The measures were taken as top doctors warned hospitals could otherwise be overwhelmed.

First Minister Arlene Foster said: ‘The Executive has been presented with the sobering prospect of our hospitals becoming overwhelmed within weeks.

‘It is clear that a tough, carefully timed, intervention is required to give us the best chance to have a safe and happy Christmas and further into the new year period.

‘The Executive has taken the decision to put in place a short, sharp circuit-breaker from Friday November 27 to reset and drive down infection rates right across Northern Ireland. 

First Minister Arlene Foster said: ‘The Executive has been presented today with the sobering prospect of our hospitals becoming overwhelmed within weeks

‘This is not the position we had hoped to be in as the current phase of restrictions comes towards an end. The R rate has unfortunately not dropped as far, or for as long, as had been estimated.

‘We have taken some time today to look at the reasons for this. 

‘Sadly it is clear that a careless minority have significantly undermined the sacrifices of the many.

‘So I want to take this opportunity to say to those who feel it’s acceptable to flout public health advice, think again.

‘We all need to work together to save our hospitals, to save Christmas, to save lives.’

Health Minister Robin Swann said: ‘Nowhere has the pressure been more severe than in our health and social care system.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: ‘I want to thank my fellow Executive Ministers for supporting the recommendations I brought to today’s meeting.

‘This virus has tested us all across society in ways we have never been tested before.

‘Nowhere has the pressure been more severe than in our health and social care system.

‘Without this further intervention, there was a very real risk of our hospitals being overwhelmed in the run up to Christmas.

‘Care for Covid and non-Covid patients would have been in severe jeopardy. We must not let that happen. 

‘All of us now have to work really hard to achieve a happier festive season. Please follow the public health advice and stay at home.

‘Let’s all redouble our efforts and look after each other.’ 

The Executive says it intends to enable up to three households to form an exclusive bubble between 23 and 27 December as part of the Christmas easing of restrictions.

The latest figures for Northern Ireland show there have been 51,118 coronavirus cases in the country and 962 deaths.