Northern Ireland is expected to be forced back into lockdown for around six weeks from Boxing Day. Ministers are understood to have signed off on an intense period of restrictions after Christmas, with closures of non-essential shops, hospitality - except for takeaways - and close contact services such as beauty salons.
The measures are set to be reviewed after four weeks. UK-wide rules allowing families to form Christmas bubbles of up to three households are expected to still go ahead.
The tougher rules for Northern Ireland come after Wales also announced it would go into lockdown after the five-day exemption period ends on December 28.
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