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The Stormont ministers have agreed to extend the Covid19 lockdown restrictions until April 1.
The current lockdown was planned until March 5 but Health Minister Robin Swann previously warned that these restrictions could be extended further.
It is expected that a review of the measures will take place on March 18.
The strict measures were imposed on December 26 to manage the spread of Covid-19, and health officials have since said they want to avoid a further rise in cases around St Patrick’s Day and Easter holidays.
Further information on a return to school is also expected to be announced later.
It is reported that children in primary 1 to primary 3 will go back to school on Monday March 8 while other primary school year groups will not return before Easter.
It is believed that pupils in years 12-14 in post-primary schools will return to class on March 22, while the remaining years will not return to a classroom before Easter.
Earlier today (Thursday) the Department of Health announced a further six Covid-19 linked deaths and 342 new cases of the virus throughout the North.