Fears mounting around Delta Covid-19 variant in NI

Concerns are growing around the reported spread of the Indian variant of Coronavirus in Northern Ireland.

At the end of May the Public Health Agency confirmed the prevalence of the Delta strain here.

At that time there was no evidence of community transmission but fears have been mounting in recent days.

Surge testing was set up in County Down last week amid reports of an outbreak in Kilkeel.

There are now growing concerns that case numbers could be rising.

Chair of the Health Committee Colm Gildernew asked health officials for an update:

"As a result of growing concerns around the Delta variant I had requested via the clerk that the Department would provide the committee with a briefing, now the department have come back to say they're not able to provide a briefing, that they could provide a written briefing by Monday.

"But to be quite honest members I don't think that's actually good enough given the seriousness of the situation."

Downtown Cool FM has asked both the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency for comment.