Q Radio News/PA
Northern Ireland’s leaders have indicated they do not expect further Covid-19 restrictions to be introduced before Christmas.
Executive ministers are expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the latest situation.
First Minister Paul Givan and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill were speaking separately on Wednesday following the first confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in the region.
On Wednesday evening, Mr Givan said he had held a meeting with Michael Gove, as well as Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the Omicron variant.
On Twitter, he said he and Ms O’Neill had also spoken with Health Minister Robin Swann and health officials about the situation.
He said that he intended to hold a meeting of the Executive on Thursday to “update colleagues”.
Earlier, Mr Givan said confirmation of three cases of Omicron was not a surprise, and while he urged people to follow public health advice he said he does not believe further restrictions will be required before Christmas.
“I don’t envisage there being further restrictions before Christmas, the current measures that we have in place, if people follow that, that will be able to get us through the Christmas period,” he said.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill
Speaking separately in Derry/Londonderry, Ms O’Neill said she was expecting the Executive to meet. She added: “We’re talking daily in terms of what’s happening as we see it unfolding.
“The chief medical officer has been clear in saying that it is about redoubling our efforts, it is about going back to the basics, it is about being vigilant.
“But if we have to look at additional areas in terms of what we need to do, then absolutely we’ll be following the health and scientific advice.”
Asked whether new restrictions will be introduced, Ms O’Neill said it is too early to say.
“I think that for now it is about redoubling our efforts, for now it is just about remaining cautious and people encouraging safe practices, but crucially the booster, that is essentially the most effective way to fight against this virus,” she said.
“If we have to look at additional measures, then that’s what we’ll have to do but as of today the chief medical officer’s advice, the health minister’s advice, is that what we’re doing is enough but we need again to ask the public to be vigilant and to get the vaccine, if you haven’t already got it, and if you have got it, also get the booster.”
Chief medical officer Sir Michael McBride said it is too early to tell how Omicron may affect restrictions.
Sir Michael was speaking after the Republic of Ireland brought back some restrictions for the hospitality sector.
He said there are currently 10% of hospital beds in Northern Ireland taken up with Covid-19 patients whereas last November it was 15%.
Sir Michael added he expects to see a “rapid increase” in cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant before Christmas.
Measures are being taken to try to delay community transmission of the variant, he said, but that is “absolutely inevitable”.
CMO Sir Michael McBride
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