Covid-19: Level 5 lockdown is 'pre-emptive' strike to bring virus under control

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly expects cases to rise before the lockdown measures have an impact. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The decision to move to level 5 Covid restrictions is a "pre-emptive strike" to bring the virus under control, the health minister has said.

Stephen Donnelly has also said he should have been told of the serious pressures on contact tracing over the weekend which lead to Covid positive people being asked to alert their own close contacts.