Arlene Foster: Return to period of full lockdown in NI 'cannot be ruled out'

First Minister Arlene Foster at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, during a Covid-19 press conference (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA)

Stormont’s leaders have raised the prospect of Northern Ireland having to re-enter a period of full coronavirus lockdown.

As the region prepared for the introduction of fresh restrictions on domestic gatherings at 6pm on Tuesday, First Minister Arlene Foster said a two-week period of lockdown to try to halt the spread of the virus – a so-called circuit breaker – could not be ruled out.