New Covid-19 variant ‘likely’ in Northern Ireland, say’s Health Minister

THE Health Minister Robin Swann believes the new Covid-19 variant Omicron is ‘likely’ already in Northern Ireland.

In a statement to MLAs, Mr Swann said, “Although there is limited evidence of the impact of the new variant, there are concerns that it has a large number of mutations, which means that there is the potential for the variant to be resistant to vaccines and more transmissible.

“As yet it is unclear if it would be more serious in terms of the clinical impact.

“At this particular moment, there have been no confirmed cases of the Omicron variant identified in Northern Ireland, but it is highly likely that this position will change in the coming days.

“The Public Health Agency (PHA) is undertaking detailed risk assessments of some returning travellers from red-listed countries and is advising on any immediate public health actions which are required to slow the introduction of this variant and to limit its spread in Northern Ireland.

“In light of the cases identified in England and Scotland it is to be expected that there may already be cases of the variant in Northern Ireland.”

Mr Swann all stated that all arrivals into the North from non red-list countries including those who are vaccinated will now be required to self isolate for 10 days unless they receive a negative test result with a PCR test to be undertaken on or before day two.

The Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, also said it was ‘likely’ the new variant was also present in the Republic.

Mr Donnelly said, “I think it is likely at this point that we will be identifying cases here in the coming days.

“The working assumption at this stage would be that at least some of these, it is likely, will be sequenced as the new variant.”