Two weeks of further restrictions needed to protect NI hospitals, Swann warns

Two weeks of further coronavirus restrictions are required before Christmas, health minister Robin Swann said (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA)

Stormont ministers have been told two weeks of further coronavirus restrictions are required before Christmas to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

Health minister Robin Swann has warned colleagues if no new measures are introduced by the end of November even a full lockdown in mid-December would not be enough to prevent the health service being swamped by Covid-19 cases.