Stormont ministers have failed to reach agreement on a potential extension of circuit-break coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland.
Ministers in the power-sharing executive are due to resume discussions tomorrow morning.
Extensive talks today failed to produce an outcome, with ministers at odds on whether to extend some or all of the measures for a further two weeks.
The executive initially adjourned the meeting this morning to seek further data on the likely impact of easing some restrictions.
They reconvened in the early evening for further talks. A breakthrough did not materialise, with ministers set to resume at 11am tomorrow.
The four-week, circuit-break lockdown that has forced the closure of much of the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland is due to end on Thursday.
With hospitals still under sustained pressure dealing with Covid-19 admissions, ministers are set to extend some of the restrictions.
However, they are considering relaxing some measures.
It is understood these could allow cafés and restaurants to reopen, but without alcohol being sold.
Representatives from the hospitality sector have criticised that suggestion, insisting the inability to sell alcohol would make trading unviable.
Critics of the measures being considered by the DUP and Sinn Féin-led coalition included DUP MP Ian Paisley.
He accused the executive of taking decisions for the "optics", in order to make the administration look good.
Mr Paisley questioned the evidential basis for claiming the ban on alcohol in restaurants would drive down infection rates.
"It's like saying you can open a hairdresser but you can't use a comb," he told the BBC.
"Seriously, what's the evidence for that?"
It is understood the executive is also considering extending the closure of pubs that do not sell food for a further two weeks.
Ministers are also assessing whether close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, could be allowed to resume, as long as strict restrictions are observed.
Scientific advice is to stick with restrictions - Eastwood
The SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood has said politics rather than science is driving demands that restrictions be lifted this week as originally planned, rather than extending them for another fortnight.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Eastwood described the current situation as "a mess".
He said "it's a total nonsense for us at this point to say that it's okay to open restaurants but restaurants won't be allowed to sell alcohol".
He said no-one wants these restrictions but "the scientific and medical advice is overwhelming that the best way to do that is to stick with these very difficult restrictions for a couple more weeks, so we can give those industries some hope that they will have a bit of a Christmas and they can make some money in that month."
He said "if we have this half way house, we don't get a grip on the virus, and we actually needing further and stronger restrictions throughout Christmas and that would be an economic disaster and also a disaster in terms of managing the virus".
He again called for an all Ireland approach to manage the virus, but he said now it seems "Sinn Féin are prepared to cast that aside".
