PEOPLE in the North of Ireland caught breaching Coronavirus regulations will now face a minimum fine of £200 under plans agreed by the executive.
Ministers have this afternoon signed off on proposals brought by Justice Minister Naomi Long.
At present, fixed penalty notices start at £60, but can rise to £960 for repeat offenders.
It is understood that the use of mandatory face coverings here is also to be extended.
Face coverings are compulsory on public transport and for customers in shops, but will be compulsory in the following settings:
Taxis and private buses
For staff in retail shops
In public areas of civil services offices such as jobs and benefits offices
When boarding a plane
In banks, building societies, credit unions and post offices
For driving instructors and their students
The usual exemptions from wearing a face covering will still apply, the executive has said.
But the Executive has agreed not to impose new local restrictions in Newry, Mourne and Down council area, where cases have been rising sharply in recent days.
Restrictions were imposed on the Derry and Strabane council area earlier this week to stop a further spread of the virus.
The first and deputy first ministers are due to set out details of what the Executive has agreed at a press conference at Stormont later this afternoon.
Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed concerns about the rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the North of Ireland.
The two leaders spoke by phone on Thursday morning.
Mr Johnson also raised concerns about the impact of “restrictions on the economy”, an Irish government spokesperson said.
They agreed to monitor the situation and remain in touch.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said she and First Minister Arlene Foster had asked for “an urgent conversation” with Mr Johnson due to cases rising “at an alarming rate”.
The North’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride will speak with his counterpart in the Republic Dr Tony Holohan later on Thursday.
Last week, Arlene Foster had warned that “tougher penalties are coming”, in a sign the executive wants to take a harder stance on those who flout the rules.
On Wednesday evening, Health Minister Robin Swann said: “If the penalty for not wearing a face covering is not enough to get people to do it, then we have to increase that penalty.”
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