Nightclubs will be closed in Northern Ireland from Boxing Day after the nation recorded its highest daily increase in Covid figures.
People must remain seated for table service while numbers will be limited to six in bars and restaurants from 6am on December 26.
Dancing will be banned in hospitality venues, although this will not apply to weddings.
The new measures announced tonight mean England is the only nation still kept in the dark over whether any new restrictions will be introduced to tackle Omicron.
Large-scale Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland have been cancelled and live sports will be ‘effectively spectator-free’ from Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, Wales announced similar restrictions to Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
Boris Johnson promised yesterday Christmas could go ahead as planned in England – but warned he ‘reserves the possibility’ of further action.
He is rumoured to be considering a circuit-breaker lockdown as the UK reports 100,000 daily infections for the first time since the pandemic hit.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has criticised the UK Government’s inaction over rising Omicron cases, saying: ‘I believe the UK Government sees all the data we see and gets all the advice that we get about the need to act and act urgently in the light of the Omicron wave coming our way.’
He added: ‘They are paralysed by their internal divisions and are unable to act on it.’
But it comes as
new evidence suggests Omicron causes a less severe disease than previous Covid-19 variants.Some 3,231 new Covid cases were confirmed in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, a jump from 2,096 cases recorded on Tuesday.
Ministers hae agreed sporting events can continue with no limits on capacity, while the work from home message will be bolstered and legislation introduced to require social distancing in workplaces.
Employers will be encouraged to introduce lateral flow testing procedures, while people attending large events will be urged to wear face masks, take tests and avoid car sharing.
Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann said officials would have preferred to impose stricter measures as a precaution.
But options to take on the new highly infectious variant are ‘extremely limited due to the absence of furlough and additional supports’.
He said: ‘I have made clear to ministerial colleagues that we may have to move quickly again in the event of the Covid situation deteriorating again further and additional funding becoming available.
‘That may have to happen in the very near future but I will say again, it is not inevitable. So I would encourage everyone still to come forward and get their vaccinations and follow public health guidance.’
First Minister Paul Givan described new restrictions as ‘proportionate based on where we are today’.
But he added they will be kept under review, with the Executive set to meet again on December 30.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said ministers ‘spent considerable time agreeing a proportionate package of measures based on the best evidence that we have available to us at this time’.
She continued: ‘In the meantime, we are getting on with planning for all eventualities. Central to our ability to respond to the pandemic has been around the availability of money to support individuals and businesses through this very difficult time.
‘We will continue to press the Treasury for financial support because that gives us more flexibility in terms of managing the situation as we see fit here, not depending on what happens in England.’
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