The first Omicron COVID-19 variant cases have been confirmed in Northern Ireland.
Covid-19 update
Three Omicron cases have been confirmed in total – two in the same household in the greater Belfast area and a third unconnected case in the South Eastern Trust area.
All three positive cases have linkages to travel from GB to NI.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Michael McBride said: “This is a development we have been expecting and preparing for since we were first made aware of the Omicron variant.
“Targeted actions by the Public Health Agency – including testing and enhanced contact tracing – are ongoing to investigate and assess these cases. There is no evidence at this time of wider community transmission in Northern Ireland.