Health Secretary Matt Hancock said ‘households gathering and not abiding by the social-distancing rules’ was a reason for the stricter rules.
Officials have said the new measures mean people in certain areas will not be permitted to mix with other households outside their support bubbles.
Restrictions came into force at midnight on Friday.
Liz Kendall said that residents’ hard work had paid off.
A ban on households meeting indoors in northern England from Friday is the latest response to the difficulties in recovering from the pandemic.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the measures had been taken with ‘a heavy heart’, but said that ‘immediate action’ was needed to keep people safe.
This is the first plenary session since November 2016 of a body set up under the Good Friday Agreement to deepen co-operation across the island.
The measures are designed to ‘keep the country safe’ amid rising cases, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.
Harry Cannell became concerned about drivers speeding after their family cat was run over.
One holidaymaker told PA he was told via text that his flight had been cancelled.
Oldham, Pendle and Trafford are among the areas recording a week-on-week rise.
At least 202 migrants managed to cross to Britain on Thursday in a surge of 20 boats, the Home Office confirmed.
YouTube has already removed one video for violating hate speech policies.
The Disasters Emergency Committee Coronavirus Appeal has now raised over £18 million since its launch on July 14.
With all the performing prowess of his namesake, Russell Crow the rooster got involved in Thursday’s sermon.
A number of celebrities have reminisced about the catalogue after the retailer announced it would cease print.
The Duke of Cambridge has been trying to tackle the illegal wildlife trade for a number of years.