Four more Covid-19 deaths reported in past 24 hours in Northern Ireland

By Q Radio News/PA

The deaths of a further four patients who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 have been confirmed in Northern Ireland.

Another 1,819 cases of the virus were also notified.

On Thursday morning, there were 338 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom 38 were in intensive care.

Earlier, First Minister Paul Givan said Stormont officials are scenario-planning potential further restrictions that may be needed when the Omicron variant is expected to become dominant in the country early next year.

Four more Covid-19 deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours. The Department of Health has also recorded 1,819 new cases. pic.twitter.com/oXhlgbDByK

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 9, 2021

Mr Givan said the transmission rate of the variant is causing concern in Great Britain.

The DUP minister said Northern Ireland was “behind the curve” and should be able to “get through the next number of weeks” before Omicron becomes dominant in the country.

“We don’t need to be panicking but we do need to recognise that what we are being advised is that this new variant is going to become a challenge for us in Northern Ireland early in the new year and we need to be ready for that,” he said.

“So preparation is taking place. That’s what some of the discussion will be at the Executive today, so that we have all of this thought through in terms of what may be necessary.

“That’s why I’ve said ‘don’t panic’ but we, as leaders of the Executive, need to make sure that proper preparedness is in place and we look at a range of scenarios and… it is prudent for us to be considering these things.”

Speaking on a visit to Lagan Valley hospital in Lisburn earlier today, he said the controversy around allegations of a coronavirus rule breaking party at Downing Street had damaged the public health message.

“I think it has done damage and what I would say to people is ‘look beyond the political drama of what’s going on at Downing Street',” he said.

“Because the evidence that we’re hearing from the scientific experts in and of itself tells us that we need to be having a prepared state in terms of what we need to consider, and so the public shouldn’t be distracted by what has happened with the Prime Minister and what’s going on at Downing Street, continue to listen to the good advice that’s coming from our health professionals, our scientific experts and cut through the noise that’s being generated from Downing Street.

“But, undoubtedly, that is an unhelpful distraction. It does undermine people’s credibility whenever you’re asking people to follow rules whenever there’s clearly concern for the way in which things have been done at Downing Street.”

(Covid-19 generic photo)