Social distancing may need to come back in January

Some Covid-19 restrictions, such as social distancing, may need to be reintroduced in Northern Ireland from January, the chief medical officer has warned.

Sir Michael McBride said they may be required to tackle the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Three cases of the variant have so far been recorded in Northern Ireland.

“Risks in certain sectors” may also need to be looked at, Sir Michael said.

The legal requirement for social distancing outdoors and in hospitality no longer exists in Northern Ireland.

“If the doubling rates [of Omicron infection] we’re seeing in Scotland and England continue it is likely to be the case that we will have to look at further measures and further steps that might involve further rules in and around social distancing again,” he told BBC NI’s The View.

But the chief medical officer said “what we firstly need to do is double down on all the things we know that work”.

“That means getting your vaccine, getting your booster, wearing your face covering, working from home where you can,” he said.

He said there was “cause for concern in what lies ahead”.