Arlene Foster: There will be more Coronavirus outbreaks in Northern Ireland

“We are prepared for that and will take the appropriate action,” she said.

“It is fair to say that there will be clusters across Northern Ireland and we don’t want that to come as a surprise when it happens.

“If we manage our social distancing and the public health advice, then we will minimise the risk of those clusters happening.”

She said that it was still imperative that the public observes safety measures.

The Executive is still debating whether to make face masks compulsory on public transport, she said, and it is also considering whether the matter would need to be in law or only in guidance.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill added that they “strongly recommend” using face masks in enclosed and poorly ventilated spaces where social distancing is not possible.

She said transmission levels of the virus are “as low as it will reach without a vaccine”.

Ms O’Neill also said some businesses would not make it through the pandemic crisis.

She added: “We have been trying to keep helping and giving businesses more scope to be able to open up.

“We hope that the one metre information today will help more people to be viable and to keep jobs and their businesses going, but there is no doubt there will be challenges as the retention (furlough) scheme tapers off.”

The ministers were asked about the threat of major redundancies from August, when the government will be asking employers to increase contributions to employees on furlough.

Mrs Foster replied that they were looking at the issue and would be lobbying the Treasury to try and reduce the impact on industry in Northern Ireland.

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