Northern Ireland has received approximately £100 million in additional Covid-19 funding to cope with the Omicron surge, but both the DUP and Sinn Féin have called for the reintroduction of the furlough scheme and said greater financial help is needed to support the economy and people’s livelihoods.
Mr Swann said he expected Omicron to become the dominant variant in the North “possibly this side of Christmas, and if not after Christmas.” Asked about the impact of the variant on sporting events due to be held on St Stephen’s Day, Mr Swann said they would be covered by the Covid certification scheme which is currently in force.
He also renewed his appeal for people to get vaccinated and to come forward for booster doses, and said that up to two-thirds of hospital patients with Covid-19 who are under 50 are unvaccinated., revealed on Tuesday that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was “a bit croaky” but was continuing to work remotely.
“Thankfully I received my booster two weeks ago. The importance of being vaccinated cannot be overstated,” he said.on Tuesday, and an additional 2,096 cases of the virus.News