BELFAST City Hall and zoo are to close their doors to visitors as part of attempts to halt the spread of coronavirus.
The move by city councillors last night followed tougher measures by Derry City and Strabane District Council which has closed all non-essential buildings including leisure facilities.
In Belfast, members voted to close attractions including City Hall, Belfast Castle and the zoo at Bellevue.
Sports pitches and pavilions have also been shut, although council-owned leisure centres will remain open subject to ongoing review.
Weddings and civil partnerships already booked to take place in facilities including Belfast Castle and City Hall will be facilitated.
Mayor Danny Bakersaid: "We have agreed to take a number of steps in respect of our services and buildings so that we can reduce risks, and our focus remains on resources and cleaning regimes across our considerable estate."
Meanwhile, in Derry, councillors voted unanimously to close all sports and cultural facilities for two weeks and cancel the flagship City of Derry Jazz Festival.
The north west’s annual angling fair and the Strabane Lifford half marathon will also not go ahead.
From last night, all council sports and leisure facilities will remain closed as well as the civic offices, Derry’s Guildhall and Tower Museum and Strabane’s Alley Theatre.
However, open spaces including parks, play areas and cemeteries will remain open.
“Council staff will continue to report to their place of work as normal where internal working arrangements are being reviewed and a range of restrictions put in place,” a spokeswoman said.
Mayor Michaela Boyle said the council had shown strong leadership.
“The decision to close all council facilities to the public and to cancel some of our key events was not taken lightly but it was unanimously agreed that they are the right decisions in the interests of the safety of the public.”
