First Minister Arlene Foster
They said the new restrictions were not a lockdown but a necessary attempt to halt the spread within the community in the north west.
They will come into effect from next week for a fortnight and will be reviewed every week to see if the measures drive down the spread of the virus in the community.
There have been 1,082 positive case in the council area over the past seven days – with 52 in the past 24 hours.
Some of the restrictions include:
Pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels will only be able to open for takeaway, delivery and outdoor dining
People are being “strongly advised” to work from home where they can
People are also being advised to avoid unnecessary travel within the council area and to and from it
Where journeys are necessary, advice is to walk, cycle or use private transport
Schools and other educational settings will stay open
Under the new rules, all museums, galleries and cultural attractions in the council area are to remain closed
A maximum of 15 people are permitted to meet outdoors
Libraries can operate but it will be a call and collect service
Early learning and childcare services should remain open.
Sport matches can continue but without supporters
No organised indoor gatherings should take place in community halls or other similar venues;
Indoor sports is limited to individual training only and no exercise classes are allowed;
And there can also be no indoor gatherings where people from different households are mixed;
Said the First Minister Arlene Foster: “We must tighten our defences and join together to defend each other.
“We must act decisively to contain and stop the spread of the virus to other areas.”
The DUP leader says in a few short weeks the Derry City and Strabane Area has gone from having the lowest number of cases in the UK to among the highest.
She outlined that there are now 300 cases per 100,000 people and the R rate for COVID-19 is “two or higher”.
Mrs Foster said the rapid turrnaround shows the challenges we are all facing.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the executive had met on Thursday and considered the “concerning levels” of COVID-19 across Derry and Strabane.
There has been a “particularly frightening increase” in cases in the Derry and Strabane area, she said.
“We have looked at the evidence and listened to the advice of medical experts and it’s clear that doing nothing is not an option.”
She says further restrictions for the area include no indoor gatherings or indoor sport, no working in workplaces where working from home is not possible.
“Hotels can only provide services to its residents, libraries can operate but it will be a call and collect service, schools, early learning and childcare services should remain open,” she says.
“Adult and higher educational institutions should remain open but are asked to review their protective measures and to take steps to limit the gathering of groups of people as much as possible.”
The deputy first minister said that what the executive was proposing is “a proportionate response to what is happening in the Derry and Strabane area”.
“It’s really alarming to see the rise in cases in that area over the last six days,” she says.
Ms O’Neill added that the executive recognises how challenging the restrictions for the business community and that it wants to support them.
“We want to work with all those businesses that are impacted.
“We can’t give any concrete information around that but the executive is looking at this as we speak and we hope to say more about it at the beginning of next week.”
The Executive is to look at a financial package for businesses in Derry and Strabane affected by the new restrictions which could be unveiled early next week.
And hefty penalties could be introduced for those who “thumb their nose” at the stricter regulations, the First Minister warned.
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