New coronavirus restrictions were introduced in Northern Ireland on Boxing Day in a bid to drive down case numbers.
The regulations and guidance apply to everyone in the region and are in force from December 26, for six weeks.
However, a review is expected after four weeks.
Christmas bubbles that allowed three households to gather for dinner on one day, have now ended.
The restrictions, which include a curfew from 8pm until 6am until until 12.01am on January 2, come with the advice that "the single most important action you can take to fight coronavirus, to save lives, and to help our Health and Social Care system cope with current pressures is to stay at home".
From 8pm to 6am there can be no indoor or outdoor gatherings of any kind. This includes no household mixing in private gardens.
And outdoor exercise is only permitted with members of your own household up to January 2.
During curfew, the only reason people should leave the house is "in the event of emergency or for the purpose of the provision of health or care services".
Here are the reasons you can leave the house during the six-week lockdown in the day:
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Workers in health roles, food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics or distribution can continue to go to work, every other employee is advised to work from home
- Exercise
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Childcare
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Building or maintenance work
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Services of trades or professions (close contact services are not allowed)
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Providing care or assistance, including social services, to a vulnerable person
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Giving or receiving legal advice or assistance, or fulfilling a legal obligation
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Providing emergency or medical assistance to any person
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A house move, and to do associated activities for that purpose, including viewing properties and making arrangements for removals
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A marriage or civil partnership where one of the couple is terminally ill
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To walk the dog
Children whose parents do not live in the same household can continue to move between homes as normal and you can still form a bubble with one other household, however, an overnight stay in a private home is not allowed unless it is a member of your bubble.
The only businesses or services permitted to operate during curfew are:
- Petrol stations, provided that no customer enters the shop
- Pharmacies on the community pharmacy rota
- Ports, airports, train stations, bus stations and other transport services
- Groceries can also be delivered during curfew
When the strict one-week restrictions that include the curfew end, there will be some relaxations.
These include:
Up to six people from no more than two households can meet up outdoors in a private garden, but you should maintain social distancing. Children aged 12 and under are not counted in this total.
Indoor and outdoor gatherings (excluding private dwellings, weddings, and funerals)
Up to 15 people can meet outdoors, or in non-domestic indoor settings, such as a community hall. You should maintain social distancing by being at least two metres apart, as well as good hand and respiratory hygiene practices.
You may not organise, operate or participate in an indoor or outdoor gathering which consists of more than 15 people.
The following exemptions apply:
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a gathering in a workplace, if it is not possible to work at home
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a gathering to provide emergency or medical assistance to any person
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elite sports (not spectators)
Travel
You should avoid all unnecessary travel. Where travel is necessary for work, education and other essential purposes, people are asked to walk, cycle or use private transport, shared only with members of their household where possible.
Childcare
Childcare can continue to be provided by a person registered in accordance with the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 or any childcare provided free of charge, while informal childcare arrangements are also permitted to continue.
Hospitals
Hospital visits are currently restricted. Certain exceptions include:
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A birth partner supporting a woman during certain hospital visits
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For a person receiving end-of-life (palliative) care
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To accompany a baby/ child (paediatrics/ neonatal) in hospital
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For patients with dementia or a learning disability
