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| Coronavirus: New regulations come into force | Coronavirus: New regulations come into force |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New powers to enforce guidelines on people staying at home and businesses staying closed have come into force in Northern Ireland. | New powers to enforce guidelines on people staying at home and businesses staying closed have come into force in Northern Ireland. |
| The regulations were published by the NI Executive on Saturday. | The regulations were published by the NI Executive on Saturday. |
| They include the ability to force businesses to shut and crack down on people who leave their homes without a "reasonable excuse". | They include the ability to force businesses to shut and crack down on people who leave their homes without a "reasonable excuse". |
| Penalties, ranging from fixed penalty notices to fines of up to £5,000, are being introduced as enforcement. | Penalties, ranging from fixed penalty notices to fines of up to £5,000, are being introduced as enforcement. |
| The maximum fine will be reserved for businesses but people could face a maximum fine of £960 if they do not comply. | |
| Off licences have also been added to the list of essential businesses and can now stay open. | Off licences have also been added to the list of essential businesses and can now stay open. |
| The new regulations bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK. | The new regulations bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK. |
| The regulations say that reasonable excuses to leave the home include to obtain necessities, such as food and medicine; exercise; to seek medical help; to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person; to donate blood; and to travel for work, where it is not possible for that person to work from home. | The regulations say that reasonable excuses to leave the home include to obtain necessities, such as food and medicine; exercise; to seek medical help; to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person; to donate blood; and to travel for work, where it is not possible for that person to work from home. |
| These are consistent with previously announced guidelines, with Justice Minister Naomi Long saying the new regulations are "not a new direction in terms of what people should and shouldn't do". | These are consistent with previously announced guidelines, with Justice Minister Naomi Long saying the new regulations are "not a new direction in terms of what people should and shouldn't do". |
| However, she told BBC 5Live they do give the police and other bodies the power "to enforce where people do not comply with that voluntarily". | However, she told BBC 5Live they do give the police and other bodies the power "to enforce where people do not comply with that voluntarily". |
| She added that the executive had to bring in the regulations "in order for us to use the powers which were legislated for earlier in the week". | She added that the executive had to bring in the regulations "in order for us to use the powers which were legislated for earlier in the week". |
| Two more people died in Northern Ireland on Saturday after testing positive for coronavirus. | Two more people died in Northern Ireland on Saturday after testing positive for coronavirus. |
| It brought the total number of deaths in Northern Ireland to 15. | It brought the total number of deaths in Northern Ireland to 15. |
| There are currently 324 confirmed cases of the virus throughout the province. | There are currently 324 confirmed cases of the virus throughout the province. |
| On Friday night Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar introduced a mandatory order for everyone to stay at home for a two-week period until 12 April, apart from certain exceptions, across the Republic of Ireland. | On Friday night Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar introduced a mandatory order for everyone to stay at home for a two-week period until 12 April, apart from certain exceptions, across the Republic of Ireland. |
| Mr Varadkar also introduced shielding or 'cocooning' for all those over 70 years of age and certain categories of people who are vulnerable to Covid-19 in the Republic. | Mr Varadkar also introduced shielding or 'cocooning' for all those over 70 years of age and certain categories of people who are vulnerable to Covid-19 in the Republic. |
| 'We will use every power we have' | 'We will use every power we have' |
| First Minister Arlene Foster described the powers as "extraordinary" but said "we are living in extraordinary times". | First Minister Arlene Foster described the powers as "extraordinary" but said "we are living in extraordinary times". |
| "We are asking the people of Northern Ireland to make fundamental changes to how they live their lives," said Mrs Foster. | "We are asking the people of Northern Ireland to make fundamental changes to how they live their lives," said Mrs Foster. |
| "But we are doing this to keep you safe, to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 infection so that the health service has the capacity to deal with those who need their help the most." | "But we are doing this to keep you safe, to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 infection so that the health service has the capacity to deal with those who need their help the most." |
| The first minister said the executive knows "the enormity" of what they are asking of the public. | The first minister said the executive knows "the enormity" of what they are asking of the public. |
| Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said "protecting the public, supporting the health service and saving lives" were the executive's priorities. | Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said "protecting the public, supporting the health service and saving lives" were the executive's priorities. |
| "Each one of us has a personal responsibility to do everything we can to fight back against Covid-19 for the good of everyone across society," she said. | "Each one of us has a personal responsibility to do everything we can to fight back against Covid-19 for the good of everyone across society," she said. |
| "We will use every power we have to ensure people stay at home so that we save as many lives as we possibly can." | "We will use every power we have to ensure people stay at home so that we save as many lives as we possibly can." |
| Health Minister Robin Swann said that the new powers were "an essential component of the strategy to tackle the pandemic and will ensure a consistent approach across the four regions of the UK". | Health Minister Robin Swann said that the new powers were "an essential component of the strategy to tackle the pandemic and will ensure a consistent approach across the four regions of the UK". |
| New guidance has also been issued on which businesses can stay open and which must stay shut, with off licences now allowed to continue to operate. | New guidance has also been issued on which businesses can stay open and which must stay shut, with off licences now allowed to continue to operate. |
| A previous list issued by the executive on Tuesday did not include off licences among businesses allowed to open, unlike the rest of the UK. | A previous list issued by the executive on Tuesday did not include off licences among businesses allowed to open, unlike the rest of the UK. |
| Some people had expressed concern, including SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole who wrote to ministers saying that "responsible drinkers were entitled to have a drink" and that those with alcohol problems could lose access to drink, leading to extra pressure on the health service. | Some people had expressed concern, including SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole who wrote to ministers saying that "responsible drinkers were entitled to have a drink" and that those with alcohol problems could lose access to drink, leading to extra pressure on the health service. |
| The executive has also agreed that: | The executive has also agreed that: |