Stormont defends screening record for Covid-19 variant following Taoiseach's claim that it's non-existent

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Monday, 25 January 2021 07:24

By Q Radio news

The Department of Health has defended its record of screening for the coronavirus variant in Northern Ireland.

It follows claims from the Taoiseach Michael Martin - that the region ISN'T testing for the variant.

It's thought the new strain of the virus could account for up to 50 percent of cases.

The Department of Health has defended its record of screening for the coronavirus variant in Northern Ireland.https://t.co/dDUFkxJ5fC
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 25, 2021

In a statement the department said to suggest Northern Ireland is inactive in this field would be wholly incorrect - and that it's unfair to the dedicated, expert local staff working intensively in this area.

Meanwhile Northern Ireland remains one of the UK's vaccination success stories with the speed at which the jabs are being delivered.