Kent variant has become the dominant strain of Coronavirus warns Chief Medical Officer

By Q Radio news

Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer has warned that the Kent variant has become the dominant strain of Coronavirus and is much more transmissible.

Dr. Michael McBride said it was “highly likely” they would see more super-spreader events.

Dr McBride added: “We are likely to see clusters of other outbreaks. As restrictions are eased, we will see more cases.”

He said there was a risk coronavirus could get out of control.

(St. Patrick's Day festivities in the Holylands area of south Belfast)

“This virus will continue to spread in circumstances where more of us are mixing.”

He said the economy needed certainty and decision-makers did not want to have to retreat back into more restrictions.

 Dr McBride appealed to young people not to hold St Patrick’s Day parties next week.

He said: “Some people need to wise up and grow up.

“People are still dealing with the consequences of Covid-19.

“There are eight families grieving today, there are many more people in hospital.

“There are family members concerned about the outcome for those individuals so please, all of us, stay with this.”

Meanwhile, more than 600,000 people have received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, Stormont health minister Robin Swann said.

He also announced the start of the expansion of testing of asymptomatic people to workplaces providing critical services and larger workplaces where people cannot work from home.

Four sectors have been prioritised for the testing, including agri-food, essential retail, manufacturing and construction.

Matt Willis is overseeing the expansion of testing.

He said: “New technology makes it possible to test at far greater frequency and pace.”

He added: “it is critical to ensuring the safe return to as normal a society as possible.”

Up to a third of people with Covid have no symptoms, chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said.

He added: “It is important that we do not drop our guard at this time.”

(Dr. Michael McBride)