Northern Ireland has tightened restrictions on the number of people allowed to meet indoors and outdoors.
The moves by the Executive this afternoon follow a surge in new cases of Covid-19.
Outdoor gatherings are now limited to 15 people, which is a reduction from the previous figure of 30.
Indoor gatherings in private dwellings are now limited to six individuals from two households, down from ten previously.
Another 51 people in Northern Ireland have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Department of Health.
In the past seven days, 298 people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total to 6,556.
No further deaths with Covid-19 have been reported, leaving the tally at 559.
The Executive met this afternoon to decide how to respond to the increase, with nearly 300 new cases recorded during the past seven days.
Meanwhile, a meat processing factory in Antrim has been closed because of "a significant and difficult" outbreak of Covid-19.
Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann said 35 members of staff and a smaller number of visitors to the Cranswick factory in the village of Cullybackey have tested positive.
He said the outbreak is so significant that all 500 members of staff and recent visitors to the premises have been asked to self-isolate.
They will all be tested for the virus and the factory will close for a deep clean.
A meat processing factory in Northern Ireland has been closed because of "a significant and difficult" outbreak of Covid-19. Stormont Health Minister @RobinSwannMoH Swann said 35 members of staff at Cranswick in Cullybackey in Co Antrim tested positive @rtenews @franmcnulty
— Vincent Kearney (@vincekearney) August 20, 2020
The latest figures from Department of Health show that the R number in Northern Ireland is 1.3.
Mr Swann said there would be focused PSNI enforcement in hotspot areas.
He added: "Unless we take action now I fear it would soon have been too late to arrest further extensive spread of the virus."
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride backed the Executive's decisions.
He said: "I believe they send a signal to the community as a whole.
"They reflect all our concerns at the growing numbers of Covid-19 cases."
Earlier this week, Northern Ireland's Chief Scientific Advisor Professor Ian Young warned that local lockdowns may be necessary due to high rates of infection in some areas, with parts of Co Antrim causing most concern.
While the overall rate of infection is currently around 24 per 100,000 of the population, the rate in some areas of Co Antrim is 55 per 100,000.
Dr McBride had warned that lockdown measures would be needed if the rate in any region approached 80 per 100,000.
Additional reporting PA, Reuters
