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We will have continued coverage of the latest coronavirus developments this evening on the BBC News NI website and on BBC Newsline.

We will be back with the live page from 7.30am tomorrow.

Image source, Ali McCrossan

Cafe owners and workers have been given a potential boost with Belfast City Council allowing them to apply for a pavement cafe licence.

That would allow them to put tables and chairs out onto the street and help customers with social distancing.

John Elliott, managing director of Clement's Coffee shops, says he wants to see a group effort to give cafe culture the best chance of thriving again.

"I think the challenge now is not about creating another overhead with more staff to run something that might or might not work," he said.

"I think this is about business owners taking stock of where we're at, working hard at what we've got and making sure that we've got the right business model to start with.

"But there are undoubtedly big, big opportunities for everyone as we start to move forward again."

Monday has seen more significant moves as Northern Ireland continues to ease its way out of lockdown and also major news regarding the handling of the pandemic in care homes.

Here's a round-up of today's key developments:

• The entire board of the watchdog that oversees NI's care homes has resigned
• Groups of up to six people in Northern Ireland can meet indoors from Tuesday
• People who are shielding alone will be able to form a support bubble with one other household from 6 July
• Belfast City Council agrees to waive all fees for pavement café licences.
• There were no further Covid-19-related deaths in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours
• One further confirmed case of the virus was recorded in NI
• The UK recorded its lowest number of daily confirmed coronavirus cases since the lockdown began - 958 - while there were 15 further deaths

A woman from Newtownabbey, who has been shielding because her son as a chronic lung disease, says "it's fantastic" that some of the Executive's regulations are being relaxed.

From 6 July, those who are shielding can meet outside in groups of up to six, maintaining social distancing.

Those who are shielding alone will be able to form a support bubble with one other household.

Image source, PA Media

Zoe Oprey told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra her son "would be quite vulnerable to Covid-19" and have "very forcibly stuck to the shielding".

She says her family may choose to continue fully shielding until the end of July, however, they would visit relatives if opting for a "support bubble".

As a family of six, she says there is "some confusion" over whether as a group they can meet a further six people indoors.

The scientific advice is that people should be wearing face coverings, the deputy first minister has said.

Speaking at the daily coronavirus briefing, Michelle O'Neill said the advice from "both the chief scientific officer and medical officer" was that "we are in a position where we should be strongly recommending face coverings".

Image source, Reuters

She said this particularly applied to circumstances "where you can’t socially distance or the room isn’t well ventilated, or indeed public transport".

"That is the current position," she said.

Ms O'Neill added it was possible Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon might want to bring forward a paper making it mandatory, but it was her view it would be a difficult rule to enforce.

From today, face coverings are compulsory on public transport in Scotland.

Arlene Foster also told today's briefing the executive will be engaging with the UK government tomorrow about its plans around reducing social distancing guidelines from 2m to 1m.

It is expected Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce some relaxations on Tuesday around the distance and the reopening of pubs in England.

Image source, PA Media

Many hospitality groups have insisted the reduction is crucial for their businesses to reopen and remain viable by accommodating more customers.

Some countries such as France and Denmark already enforce the 1m rule.

Arlene Foster says Stormont ministers want to examine the evidence and mitigations "if he (the PM) announces as everyone expects him to some details around that tomorrow".

People reuniting indoors should avoid the urge to hug each other, the deputy first minister has said.

"I know after spending the last three months apart, it will be a natural reaction to want to hug each other, but for now we need to keep that physical distance as much as possible to be able to keep people safe," said Michelle O'Neill.

Speaking at this afternoon's daily briefing, Ms O'Neill said the "scientific and medical advice indicates that we can make further progress to facilitate more contact between people".

From tomorrow, indoor meetings between up to six people can take place.

"We have looked at a number of models and we believe that this provides the greatest flexibility to provide much needed social contact and enhanced support networks," said Ms O'Neill.

She added the relaxations on indoor meeting would not apply to those who are shielding, and said they should follow the advice related to them until their current shielding period is paused on 31 July.

The deputy first minister said she was aware that earlier relaxations of the lockdown which allowed people to meet outdoors did not provide relief for certain groups of people, including "people who are house bound and those who depend on families".

The first minister says the new regulation on six people gathering indoors is a reference to how many individuals can meet, rather than limiting people to 'bubbles' between households.

Arlene Foster described it as a "more progressive move" and says if clusters of Covid-19 cases re-emerge "then we can move back to the two household bubbling" indoors.

She told a briefing at Stormont the executive will continue with its "step-by-step process" and unlock further restrictions.

However, she says people need to maintain the "communal spirit" which has led to a suppression of the virus.

Mrs Foster adds: "In the coming days when we're able to go to a hotel or a restaurant or a visitor attraction, or most definitely a hairdressers, we will need to adapt our behaviour and be conscious of the capacity of the virus to flare up again with fatal consequences."

First Minister Arlene Foster has confirmed relaxations to rules around shielding and indoor visits.

From tomorrow, groups of up to six people can meet indoors, while for those who are shielding, they can meet in groups of up to six outdoors, maintaining social distancing, from 6 July.

Mrs Foster says this has been possible because the virus has been suppressed in the wider community and "will also be of assistance in relation to informal childcare".

"The battle against Covid-19 is still very much ongoing," she warned.

"We all need to remain vigilant.

"Over this last three months we have weathered a particularly vigorous storm."

Clodagh Rice
BBC News NI business correspondent

Belfast City Council has agreed to waive all fees for pavement café licences.

Applications opened today for cafes, bars and restaurants to use outdoor space for tables and chairs.

It’s hoped this could help small businesses trade during the pandemic while maintaining social distancing.

Some café owners had raised concerns about the cost of the application which was about £250 at a time when the industry is already struggling.

Now, Belfast City council is waiving the application fee for the foreseeable future. A move which will be welcomed by the sector.

It's coming up to that time of the day again - expect some major moves confirmed, including that up to six people can meet indoors for the first time since lockdown began, when Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill deliver the Stormont briefing in about 10 minutes.

You can watch the daily coronavirus briefing here by hitting the play button at the top of the page.

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced a relaxation around guidance for those who are shielding and vulnerable to Covid-19.

From 6 July, they will be able to meet up to six people outside the home, as long as social distancing is strictly observed, a Department of Health statement said.

People who are shielding and living alone will be able to form a support bubble with one other household.

A letter will be sent out to those affected and it will also set out plans to pause shielding from 31 July.

Image source, PA Media

Mr Swann acknowledged how "difficult" shielding has been and added that he had "listened with great sympathy to what people have told us about feeling isolated and how they have missed their loved ones".

However he also said he was conscious that there will be some who are "apprehensive".

He said that people who are shielding must strictly follow public health advice.

“While the risk of being infected has reduced, the virus still constitutes a serious threat to those who are shielding should they get it," he said.

As already reported, on today's Inside Politics, there was a discussion about the possibility that NI could move to a one-metre restriction.

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs said a distance of 1m appears to be the “direction of travel” and if guidance was there, he was content to support a reduction.

But he stressed: “We need to be careful that we don’t think this has gone away, it is still out there and we want to stop it spreading”.

Image source, Pacemaker

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said he welcomed the news that family members will be allowed to meet indoors, but said he was concerned it could put pressure on older family members to resume childcare.

“That is not the solution to childcare, we urgently need the assembly and executive to improve childminding across the board,” he added.

You can watch the full edition East Antrim edition of Inside Politics Q&A here.

Leo Kelion
Technology desk editor

Ireland's health authority plans to press ahead with the launch of a coronavirus contact-tracing app based on Apple and Google's technology.

The Health Service Executive told the BBC that it would submit a memo to government this week, and "subject to approval" would launch its Covid Tracker app shortly after.

Image source, PA Media

The move comes despite concerns raised about the tech's accuracy in its current state.

The UK is worried about false alerts.

Read more.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

The NI Sports Forum has written to the first and deputy first ministers asking them to take “urgent action” to reopen indoor sports facilities here.

At present, elite athletes in NI can only train outdoors.

That has led to some NI athletes having to travel to Dublin for a number of weeks now, to avail of indoor facilities for swimming and gymnastics.

It is understood the executive was set to approve the measure in NI last week but it has not yet been signed off.

In the letter, the NI Sports Forum says it is “deeply frustrated”., external

“Whilst a decision to open shopping centres, in which large numbers of people are likely to gather, has been made, there has been no progress on a decision to allow for the opening of indoor sporting facilities which would permit a fixed number of athletes to participate in a socially distanced, controlled sporting environment,” it adds.

Image source, SNS

“Many of our elite athletes are unable to prepare fully for the Olympics or qualification for the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and it is vital that the impact these games have on the region is also recognised.”

From 29 June, sports involving contact training can also resume in the Republic of Ireland but there is no date yet for NI.

The NI Sports Forum says there should be an all-island approach for allowing sporting organisations and clubs to resume operating.

If you have been working from home during the pandemic, how have you found it? Are you dreading the return to the office?

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme, Prof Cary Cooper - the author of a scientific book looking at working from home - said it was about giving people "flexible working arrangement that suits them".

"There will be some people who can’t constitutionally do it. Either their home space isn’t good enough, or they just like being with people," he said.

"They live in a box, and they want to go to another box for work and they want it separated."

"The vast majority do not want to work 100% remotely, what they want is flexibility. What they want is to say ‘you know what, I’m going to come in at 11 o’clock today, given the nature of the job I do, that’s really important’," said Prof Cooper.

Also speaking on the programme was Linzi Conway, a business and HR consultant who has been working from home since 2001.

"I wanted to determine when I worked and how I worked, in the hours of the day in relation to the output I was able to very quickly determine when I was getting my best output," said Ms Conway.

She said there were distinct challenges around establishing a working culture, and making sure your boundaries were respected by your family.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political reporter

Stormont sources have confirmed to the BBC that from tomorrow groups of up to six people in Northern Ireland can meet indoors.

The executive gave the green light to the move at its meeting this afternoon.

People will still be required to maintain social distancing when meeting indoors with family and friends.

The first and deputy first ministers are expected to outline the details of the decision at the executive press conference shortly.

It means Northern Ireland will become the first part of the UK to permit limited indoor gatherings.

Got questions about the current rules and restrictions?

Tune in to tonight's Coronavirus Catch-up at 19:00 BST and get some answers.

A university that has closed to face-to-face teaching during the coronavirus lockdown is still looking after about 750 students on campus.

Half the 4,500 postgraduates at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, are from abroad, and some were unable to go home when borders closed.

Image source, ESTHER EDUN

The university said its job was to make them "feel safe".

Esther Edun, 45, a researcher from Nigeria, said support during a stressful time had been "phenomenal".

Read more on this story here

Earlier on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback we heard an argument from the hospitality sector for reducing social distancing to help open up the hospitality sector.

Responding to the argument for reducing social distancing from 2m (6ft) down to 1m (3ft), is former Nipsa union official Bumper Graham.

"There is no safe and safer, there is just safe, and a higher degree of risk," he said.

"What I see is our politicians crumbling far too early to commercial pressure for businesses to make money and at the risk of losing people’s lives."

After it was put to him by host William Crawley that the public would be able to choose whether or not to attend bars and restaurants, he replied: "You are sounding a bit like Trump, saying ‘if you turn up to my rally, sign the indemnity, I’ll not be responsible'."

Image source, Reuters

There had been health concerns about Donald Trump holding a rally at the weekend, the first of its kind since lockdown measures began in many US states, and those attending the rally had to sign a waiver.

"You cannot gamble or risk people’s lives," said Mr Graham.

"The law says that employers have a primary obligation to ensure the health and safety of their workforce."