Stormont’s health minister has said he would have preferred stricter coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland in the run-up to Christmas.

Commenting on the ending of the circuit-break lockdown and the reopening of shops and much of the hospitality sector, Robin Swann said he had to accept that he operated in a five-party executive.

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Mr Swann also predicted that Northern Ireland would need a further tightening of restrictions in January.

placeholder image — PSNI officers speak with members of the public outside a shopping centre in Belfast city centre as businesses across Northern Ireland re-open their doors following a two-week circuit-breaker lockdown aimed at stemming the spread of coronavirus.

He said how strict those were depending on people’s actions in the coming weeks.

Asked by the PA news agency whether he was content with the level of restrictions in place from Friday, Robin Swann said: “From a health point of view of course we would have liked to have seen I suppose stricter.

“But you know we have to realise the time of the season we’re in and the fact that it is a five-party executive.

“But I am content that there’s enough guidance out there if people follow them – follow the rules and regulations that we have actually have set down – that we can keep this virus under control, we can stop the spread of Covid throughout our community in Northern Ireland.”

Asked if Northern Ireland would be facing another period of intensified restrictions in the new year, he replied: “I would say at this point in time, yes, we will be.

“But how severe and how strict that is will depend on people’s actions over the next two to three weeks.”