Coronavirus: Northern Ireland to go into four-week partial lockdown

First minister Arlene foster announces closure of businesses and schools as well as new limits on gatherings

• Coronavirus - latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Northern Ireland is to close schools, pubs and restaurants as part of new restrictions to try to contain exploding rates of Covid-19 infection.

Arlene Foster, the first minister, announced the partial lockdown on Wednesday at a special sitting of the Stormont assembly in response to what has become a pandemic hotspot.