The first confirmed cases of the South African variant of Covid-19 have been detected in Northern Ireland.
Three cases in all have been confirmed by the Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann.
Minister Swann said a detailed health protection risk assessment and contact tracing response have been deployed and the risk of transmission has been judged to be low.
There are currently no international flights arriving directly into the North. People who do enter the region from Britain or the Republic are asked to self-isolate for 10 days.
“I have previously been clear that identification of a confirmed case or cases of this variant in Northern Ireland was inevitable at some point.
“This development does not mean that this variant is going to become the most prevalent, or the dominant strain in Northern Ireland.
“However, it does underline once again the very real need for continuing caution in relation to Covid-19.”
