A virologist at Queen's University in Belfast has said that towns in Northern Ireland, including Newry and Derry, have seen a tripling in the number of positive cases of the Covid-19 virus over the last two weeks.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr David Courtney said that the decision by the Northern Ireland Executive to further restrict movement is the right call and should go further, to restrict business activity.
Under the new rules, there will be no mixing of two households indoors except for single-person household bubbles and certain other exemptions.
No more than six people from two households can meet in private gardens. The restrictions are to be imposed across Northern Ireland from 6pm this evening.