Executive advised that Covid-19 restrictions on hospitality should be extended for another two weeks

It has been reported on the BBC that the measures, initially imposed on 16 October, are due to end next Friday.

The executive will meet later today to consider the proposals.

On Wednesday, hospitality leaders met the first and deputy first ministers and the health minister to discuss the situation.

A Department of Health proposal, seen by BBC News NI, indicates that a two-week extension of the restrictions on hospitality until the end of November could mean the possibility of avoiding further interventions before Christmas.

On Wednesday, the department reported 10 more Covid-related deaths across Northern Ireland in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total to 740.

There were 679 confirmed new cases of the virus, with 418 people in hospital.

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