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All non-essential retail has closed as part of a new six-week coronavirus lockdown in Northern Ireland.
A night curfew is also being imposed for the first week.
The restrictions, which took effect one minute after midnight, will be reviewed after four weeks.
The hospitality industry has also closed, with restaurants, cafes and pubs selling food limited to takeout and delivery only.
The blinds have also been closed on close contact services such as barber shops and beauty salons.
During the first week, until January 2, people have been told not to leave their homes, except for essential reasons, between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the next day.
No indoor or outdoor gatherings of any kind are allowed during that time, and domestic mixing in private gardens is also prohibited.
Take-out or take-out food is not allowed during these hours.
The Stormont executive has described the restrictions as draconian, but said they are essential to address high rates of infection and death.
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From Christmas Eve, anyone arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and intending to stay for at least 24 hours must isolate themselves for ten days.
The measures are aimed at combating a new, more infectious strain of the virus detected in south-east England.
There are no travel restrictions for those who live in the Republic and regularly cross the border to obtain essential services, such as providing medical care.
New restrictions have also been introduced for anyone in Northern Ireland who has been to South Africa in the last 14 days. They are asked to isolate themselves along with all members of their household for ten days after leaving South Africa.
The decision is intended to address another variant strain of coronavirus detected in England earlier this week.
Recently, queues of ambulances were witnessed in Northern Ireland accident and emergency departments when patients were treated in parking lots due to lack of capacity within hospitals.
At any given time, 17 ambulances with patients lined up in front of the emergency department of the Antrim Area Hospital.
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