Covid: 'winter plan' to be published 'in the next week or so'

Mitigations to be 'considered' in case of 'unsustainable pressure'

The chief minister says government's winter plan for handling Covid and other respiratory viruses will be published 'in the next week or so'.

Alfred Cannan said the vaccine programme had 'significantly weakened' the link between cases, hospitalisation and deaths.

However, plans are being put in place should the situation worsen:

Giving an idea of what it will involve - Alfred Cannan says in the event of extreme pressure on the health system; vaccines, mitigations such as face coverings and the use of lateral flow tests will be made a 'priority'.

Mr Cannan says he's hoping for an 'uninterrupted Christmas':