‘Robust and extreme’ Covid-19 restriction recommendations to be discussed today at Stormont

Health Minister Robin Swann said he would put forward a number of “robust and extreme” recommendations at an executive meeting on Thursday.

It comes amid warnings from health officials that the system is struggling with winter pressures exacerbated by the pandemic.

Ministers will have to decide the date of when any new measures would take effect, how long they would last and how strict they would be.

They will also assess the latest data from the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser regarding the R-number in NI, which measures the infection rate of the virus.

The executive has expressed concerns that the spread of the virus has not reduced following a two-week limited lockdown, and that cases could spike further after the Christmas holidays unless more interventions are introduced.

Hospitals in Northern Ireland are continuing to face severe pressures after a night which saw queuing ambulances outside hospitals across NI.

On Wednesday morning there were 48 people in the emergency department at Antrim Area hospital.

On Tuesday night, doctors treated patients in ambulances with 17 vehicles outside the hospital at one point.