NI lockdown restrictions eased - garden centres and recycling centres can reopen from Monday

Marriage ceremonies involving someone who is suffering from a terminal illness will also be allowed from next week.

Ministers in the executive discussed the plan on Thursday.

Mrs. Foster and deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill briefed the media on the measures being lifted at the daily Coronavirus briefing in Belfast.

Mrs Foster said the announcement represented “very tentative first steps toward recovery”.

The region’s lockdown exit plan sets out a five-step process but does not assign projected dates for any of the stages.

“We hope to reveal more about the implementation of stage one on Monday,” said Mrs Foster.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the changes had been informed by medical and scientific advice.

“Every decision is carefully judged on an evaluation of risk and potential benefits,” she said.

Ms O’Neill said the executive would “move towards step one” of the exit plan on Monday.