Health experts believe the newest Covid variant is already circulating in Ireland, despite only one confirmed case of the latest variant being recorded here.
The new mutation, known as Omicron XE, is even more contagious than the other versions of Omicron, and while it is not as deadly as previous forms of Covid, it does still kill.
It is beginning to appear more frequently in Britain, with 1,200 cases confirmed to date and five of these in Northern Ireland as of Monday afternoon.
