Northern Ireland is set to announce four weeks of tightened restrictions, shutting pubs and restaurants, as well as closing schools for a fortnight over half-term

Northern Ireland is set for a period of intensified coronavirus restrictions after executive ministers agreed to closures of schools, pubs and restaurants.

The PA news agency understands pubs and restaurants will close for four weeks, with the exception of takeaways, while schools will close for two, one of which will cover the half-term Halloween break.

The moves do not amount to a full scale lockdown similar to that imposed during the first wave of the virus, but the measures nevertheless mark a significant ramping up of the administration’s response to spiralling infection rates.

And they also bear a stronger similarity to the “circuit-breaker” lockdown idea that critics are urging Boris Johnson to consider for England.

The Prime Minister has instead this week unveiled a three-tier local lockdown system, with places divided into ‘medium’, ‘high’ and ‘very high’ risk areas.