Northern Ireland Covid-19 alert level moves from Level 3 to Level 2

The coronavirus alert level in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom has been reduced from three to two.

Level two means Covid-19 is "in general circulation but direct Covid-19 healthcare pressures and transmission are declining or stable".

The move was announced on Wednesday, on the back of the advice of the four chief medical officers, including Northern Ireland's CMO, Professor Sir Michael McBride.

A statement said: “Based on UKHSA advice, the UK chief medical officers and NHS England national medical director have recommended to ministers the COVID Alert Level moves from Level 3 to Level 2.

“Hospitals and the wider health systems remain extremely busy overall but the summer BA.4 and BA.5 wave is subsiding and direct COVID severe illness is now a much smaller proportion of this.

"Severe COVID cases, direct COVID healthcare pressures, direct COVID deaths and ONS community positivity estimates have decreased.

"COVID remains present in the community and we may see an increase in cases with BA 4.6 and BA.2.75 circulating but do not expect this to lead to an immediate increase in hospital pressures.

"This will continue to be kept under review. Further COVID surges are likely so please be prepared by getting a vaccination when it is offered."

The development comes as the UK Covid-19 Inquiry opened its investigation into the decisions made by the Northern Ireland Executive during the pandemic.