New powers have come into effect in Northern Ireland to enforce a 'stay at home' order.
The regulations include the ability to force businesses to shut and a crackdown on people who leave their homes without a "reasonable excuse".
Businesses that fail to comply can be fined over £5,000 with a fine of over £960 for people who fail to heed the regulations.
The new rules bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK.
It comes as a letter to be sent to 30 million households in the UK may raise the prospect of stricter lockdown measures there.
People are already under tight restrictions after being told to only leave their homes for essential necessities, to exercise once a day, for a medical need or to help a vulnerable person, or to go to work if it is not possible to work from home.
'Follow the rules'
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tested positive for coronavirus this week, says in the letter it is a "moment of national emergency".
His plea for people to "follow the rules" will land on the doorsteps of households across the UK from next week.
On the lockdown restrictions, he says: "We will not hesitate to go further if that is what the scientific and medical advice tells us we must do."
Mr Johnson writes: "We know things will get worse before they get better.
"But we are making the right preparations, and the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal.
New figures released yesterday showed another 259 people died in the UK after testing positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of people who have died there after contracting the virus to 1,028.
In Northern Ireland, 15 people have died from coronavirus with a further 324 cases confirmed.
Additional reporting by IRN
