The first Omicron COVID-19 variant cases have been confirmed in Northern Ireland.

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. 

 

The Education Authority Youth Service continues to provide essential services to children and young people in line with its statutory obligations. A key element of this relates to residential overnight stays and international visits.

Previously the Education Authority Youth Service provided guidance on these that outlined a progressive return to full provision in terms of numbers of groups and numbers of participants who could attend.

In light of the current context of increasing COVID 19 positive cases the Education Authority Youth Service have decided to postpone the transition to Step 2 to a later date when it is hoped that the situation will be more conducive to delivering youth work outcomes safely in those settings.

The new proposed dates are as follows:

*Indicative date to commence subject to PHA advice
Permissible Delivery
Step 1.  A maximum of 35 participants permitted for overnight stays from a single visiting group/school (see also section 2)
Duration 4 weeks From 1/11/2021
Permissible Delivery
Step 2. A maximum of 60 participants permitted for overnight stays from up to 3 visiting groups (see also section 2)
Duration 8 weeks From 10/01/2022*
Permissible Delivery
Step. 3 Return to normal operation delivered in line with at the time PHA guidance, including test trace and protect  From 14/02/2022*

Full Guidance is here