The prime minister is announcing strict new curbs on life in the UK to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

From this evening people must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, daily exercise, any medical need and travelling to and from essential work.

Shops selling non-essential goods will also be shut and gatherings in public of more than two people who do not live together prohibited.

Image source, Getty Images

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make a televised address to the nation at 20:30 GMT as the UK government attempts to slow the spread of coronavirus.

A patient who tested positive for coronavirus has died in hospital in the greater Belfast area, bringing Northern Ireland's death toll to three since the outbreak began. The patient was in their late 60s and had underlying health conditions according to the Department of Health.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: “My heart goes out to the loved ones of this patient.“This is the third tragic announcement of this kind I have had to make in recent days. “The lethal threat from this virus is very real and we all have to do everything we can to combat it.”

Earlier, during the daily Stormont briefing, Arlene Foster answered some 'yes/no' questions she had seen floating about on social media about construction sites and supply chains in supermarkets.

The first minister says construction sites can stay open if workers can practice safe social distancing and must close if not.

She also reiterated that people should not panic buy food as the supply chains to supermarkets are safe.

Church leaders across the island of Ireland have welcomed the justice minister's commitment to ensuring "respect for deceased and bereaved will be preserved".

Speaking in Stormont earlier, Naomi Long said that in terms of funerals, her department would work to ensure the deceased will be buried or cremated "in the usual way".

She did add that "some families may need to wait longer for burial or cremation of their loved ones".

Image source, Getty Images

The leaders of the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church in Ireland, Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Irish Council of Churches commended the department for its "concern, sensitivity and understanding”.

“In many parts of this country we have come to expect that a funeral service with burial/cremation will normally take place around the third day after death," a statement says.

"With the evolving coronavirus crisis that may not be possible, especially if there are numerous deaths and the authorities come under severe pressure."

The statement adds that clergyman would "perform funeral liturgies and services as soon as legally and practically possible, working with funeral directors and others as appropriate".

A Belfast councillor says closing the chapel at NI's only crematorium was an "exceptionally difficult decision".

It means grieving families cannot attend services at Roselawn Crematorium.

Progressive Unionist Party councillor Dr John Kyle says councillors had initially wanted to restrict numbers attending services at Roselawn to about 30 mourners.

"But then as the guidance from the government changed and the restrictions became more and more restrictive, we realised that was not going to be feasible," he says.

The chapel and other facilities at Roselawn closed to the public on Monday.

Cremations will still be carried out but families cannot attend.

Image source, Jody Mallon

Self-isolation is necessary for some - but there's no denying it can be hard on those who can't see loved ones.

We just love this photo sent in by Stephanie Giblin and taken by her sister Jody Mallon.

Little Davin, 5, showed just how much he loves his Granda with a safe no contact hand-to-hand "touch" through the glass in Dungannon, in County Tyrone on Friday.

It's been another very busy day - here's what you need to know this evening:

• First Minister Arlene Foster says there will be a "wave of deaths" in Northern Ireland if people do not obey social distancing rules as the coronavirus will spread

• Both Mrs Foster and NI Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill say all non-essential services should now close and that the Stormont Executive will soon have laws to enforce social distancing

Image source, Getty Images

• The first and deputy first ministers said food and medicine supplies have been secured so there is no need to panic buy

• Northern Ireland's health service is to access all hospital beds across the private sector

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to address the UK at 20:30 tonight, with speculation pointing towards a ramping-up of enforcement measures around social distancing.

Diageo, best known as the brewer of Guinness, has announced it will be providing grain-neutral spirit, a 96% strength ethyl alcohol used primarily in production of vodka and gin, at no cost to hand sanitiser producers in countries around the world.

Image source, Getty Images

They think that will allow the production of about eight million bottles (250ml) of hand sanitiser.

For the UK and Ireland they are making available 500,000 litres of the spirit.

A number of distilleries and brewers have announced similar initiatives in the past week.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

Stormont’s finance minister Conor Murphy has put in place new measures to support agency workers in the civil service.

There are about 2,500 agency workers at present in the civil service.

Image source, BBc

They will get enhanced sick pay and special leave arrangements backdated to 13 March.

Mr Murphy said his department could not stand over a situation where workers, who should be self-isolating, were coming into work because they could not afford to stay at home.

Belfast-born TV presenter Eamonn Holmes has responded to a video plea put up by Mater hospital A&E consultant Eoghan Ferry.

The hospital has been identified as the preferred site to deal with the coronavirus surge.

On Tuesday, the emergency department will be closed to walk-in patients and Dr Ferry is asking anyone who wants to access emergency care to consider community advice, "choose wisely" and then, if needed, go to the Royal Victoria Hospital instead.

Eamonn Holmes, who has a personal close association with the hospital, sent his support to the staff.

Louise Cullen
BBC News NI

As well as this, the demand on pharmacists will be quite remarkable.

Chief pharmaceutical officer Cathy Harrison is targeting more than 200 recently-retired pharmacists for a return to work.

She is looking at pre-registration pharmacists – students who have graduated and are close to registering.

Image source, EPA

She also envisages a role for students who are still at university to help the network.

The 40,000 patients who will be told to stay at home will still need medication.

"The advice for everyone is, where possible to ask family member, friend or neighbour to collect prescriptions for you and, in extreme situations, the pharmacy can deliver”.

The government says it is prepared to take "more action" if people do not follow its advice to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC that some people's behaviour was "very selfish", after crowds were pictured in parks and other places at the weekend.

Social distancing involves

• Working from home whenever possible
• Avoiding all unnecessary travel
• Staying away from crowded places
• Avoiding gatherings with friends and families wherever possible
• Staying two metres from other people

Image source, Getty Images

What am I allowed to do when social distancing?

• You can see family and friends if it's essential
• You can walk your dog
• You can provide essential care for elderly relatives and neighbours if you have no symptoms
• You can go to the shops to buy food and groceries
• You can exercise at a safe distance from others

Read the rest of this article here.

Lots of sporting stars have been helping the NI health service deliver its important message about social distancing and staying at home.

Today's its champion runner Ciara Mageean's turn - she's made a video reminding people that while the kids may be off school, this is not a holiday.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill says parents of children who require free school meals will receive a direct payment.

The executive had already agreed to continue funding free school meals for about 100,000 children in NI.

Image source, Getty Images

“I can assure parents a decision has been taken to pay parents directly so they can feed hungry children in the house,” she says.

She says a “wraparound service” in addition to the payment is being explored, so that those in community and voluntary sectors can help to provide food and assist families.

Louise Cullen
BBC News NI

It is expected that private hospitals in NI will play their part in the ongoing response to the crisis.

The Ulster Independent, Kingsbridge Private Hospital (both in Belfast) and the North West Independent Hospital have approached the health board to help deal with the pandemic.

They are still negotiating the finer details. But it could potentially mean about 100 more beds, 12 operating theatres, 15 anaesthetising machines and more than 400 staff.

Image source, Google

Mark Regan, chief executive at Kingsbridge, says: "We would see ourselves as a non-covid disease centre, so we are maybe would be treating people with traditional injuries or diseases – for example, broken bones or gall bladder operations.

“That removes the pressure from the NHS and allows them to deal with covid."

Catherine Smyth
BBC News NI

The Department of Health says it is doing everything it can to to provide appropriate personal protection equipment to people working in all health and care sectors.

A spokesperson says there have been efforts to distribute urgently required items like face-masks, face-shields and visors.

Northern Ireland’s PPE stock includes equipment that had been stockpiled in the event of a no-deal Brexit or for emergencies.

Image source, Getty Images

This stock has been used to meet current demand.Supply and stock management systems are being kept under review, to ensure timely distribution.

There is international demand pressure for PPE as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic and the fact that China was a major global supplier.

The spokesperson added that strong interest from local industry in helping to meet demand is anticipated and they are engaging with them alongside Invest NI.

Two more people have died from coronavirus-related illness in the Republic of Ireland, bringing the total there to six.

Image source, Getty Images

Latest figures from health officials show that 219 new cases Covid-19 have been diagnosed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,012.

There are now 1,160 cases of the coronavirus on the island of Ireland.

BBC News NI's Mark Simpson says he believes there has been a change in the last 24 hours in regards to how seriously people in NI are taking guidelines on staying apart.

Image source, bbc

"I've been monitoring social distancing - from a distance - for the BBC over the past week and I have seen a big change I have to say," he said.

"It may be only anecdotal, because I can't be everywhere, but I've been around County Down, I've been around County Antrim and I've been around Belfast city centre today. I have seen a step change."

Julian O'Neill
BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent

Publicly and privately, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said it does not imagine having to call on the Army for help.

However, as events have shown, the world is moving at breathtaking speed in trying to reduce the impact of Covid-19.

There are about 3,000 armed forces personnel in Northern Ireland – 2,000 of them in the reserves.

Any future decision to call on them would require a request from the chief constable to be backed by the cross-party Executive.

Image source, PA M

Sinn Féin MLAs stayed clear of the issue during questions to Justice Minister Naomi Long on Monday.

The ‘nightmare scenario’, as one security source put it, would be the PSNI trying to enforce a lockdown, being over-stretched and requiring support.

Its bomb disposal duties aside, the Army has been on the streets of Northern Ireland numerous times post-Troubles.

In 2013, the RAF dropped animal feed by helicopter on to farms in the Glens of Antrim after they had been cut-off by heavy snowfalls.

The Stormont agriculture minister at the time – Sinn Féin's Michelle O’Neill, is now of course deputy first minister.