New powers to enforce guidelines on people staying at home and businesses staying closed have come into force in Northern Ireland.

The regulations were announced by the NI Executive on Saturday.

They include the ability to force businesses to shut and crack down on people who leave their homes without a "reasonable excuse".

Penalties, ranging from fixed penalty notices to fines of up to £5,000, can be issued by police as a means of enforcement.

Pacemaker Copyright: Pacemaker

The powers also ban gatherings of more than two people.

The new regulations say that reasonable excuses to leave the home include to obtain necessities, such as food and medicine; exercise; to seek medical help; to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person; to donate blood; and to travel for work, where it is not possible for that person to work from home

First Minister Arlene Foster described the powers as "extraordinary" but said "we are living in extraordinary times".