CMO: We are starting to get this virus 'under control'

Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer says the region is beginning to see the positive impact of lockdown restrictions.

Speaking at an Executive update on Wednesday, Dr Michael McBride revealed that test positivity rates are down from 20% to 5%.

And he also said the R rate remains below one.

Dr McBride was speaking just a day after the Executive revealed its roadmap out of lockdown.

Asked about the pathway Dr McBride said there are positive indicators:

"Is the epidemic under control yes or no?

"That's the key question and there are a number of measures.

"Something that people will be familiar with by now is the percentage of tests that test positive.

"Today for the first time it is sitting at 5%, if you think back in previous weeks we were talking a test positivity rate of over 20%.

"We were clearly not in control...we are now getting the epidemic under control."

And the Health Minister echoed that 'cautious optimism.'

He revealed data on the prevalence of the virus and vaccine rollout figures were "positive."

"Our approach - which is firmly based on the principle of based on cautious optimism - is producing dividends,'' he said.

Mr Swann said 582,881 vaccines had been administered in the region, 545,000 of which were first doses.

"We expect the programme to be even busier in the coming weeks, with supplies of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine scheduled to increase very significantly,'' he said.

"The vaccination programme will be scaled up accordingly and plans to that effect are being finalised this week.''