Schools across Northern Ireland are to close to pupils from today in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.
The announcement was made this evening by NI First Minister Arlene Foster.
Schools have closed to pupils immediately, while staff will work until Friday before a complete closure on Monday.
Schools in the rest of the UK are expected to close from Friday.
The decision comes as Covid-19 cases in the UK rose by 676 to 2,626 today. There are 68 cases confirmed in Northern Ireland. The death toll in the UK has reached 104.
A large number of schools in Northern Ireland had already closed for this week, while no reopening date has been set by the government.
