Following a long meeting, the Northern Ireland Executive is expected to announce a hard two-week lock down from November 27.
The Executive announced last week that services such as hairdressers, driving instructors, tattoo parlours and even cafés could welcome customers back on November 20.
It is understood these close contact services can reopen on Friday as planned.
Sources suggest that when the lockdown comes into force it will affect churches and non-essential retail, leisure centres and gyms - but that schools will remain open.
Official confirmation from the Executive is due.
Licensed premises were expected to reopen next Friday with additional restrictions.
But the DUP's 'change of tone' today sparked concerns businesses may need to brace for more changes.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said this morning they would be “looking at the infection rate” and what the impact is of “current restrictions and are they working” at today's meeting.
It was revealed this afternoon that a number of options were on the table.
Health Minister Robin Swann's paper suggested that to continue with planned relaxations would see the R-rate "significantly rise" and that the most effective measures in lowering it would see an extension of current closures to include schools, non-essential retail, churches, leisure centres and entertainment.
It also said no further action throughout November would result in a "significant increase" in coronavirus and non-Covid related deaths by mid-December as hospitals are overwhelmed.
The decision to enforce the strict new rules is understood to have been based on modelling that suggested it could prevent more measures in the run up to Christmas.
