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That's all from us but you can follow all the latest on our news website, ���˿��� Radio Ulster and ���˿��� Newsline throughout tonight - we'll see you again next time.

Much of what was said looking towards the two-week lockdown which will kick in on Friday - where were the main points from the briefing:

• Plans on how vaccinations will be rolled out in Northern Ireland will be presented to the executive tomorrow.
• Already 600 people, including retired health care workers, have volunteered to work as vaccinators.
• The R-number, which measures the spread of coronavirus, is at about 1 in Northern Ireland.
• Covid-19 case numbers in NI have "declined overall", chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said.
• There was a strong emphasis on following the rules in the coming weeks, with the health minister saying it will mean "fewer empty chairs around tables on Christmas Day".

On the timing of the vaccines being rolled out, Dr McBride says this is dependent on on when the vaccines get "regulatory approval".

Mr Swann notes that the vaccine will be rolled out through a four-nation policy, which focuses on giving the vaccine to the most vulnerable first.

This will see the vaccine the administered through age-descending bands.

And with that Mr Swann and Dr McBride put their face coverings back on and bring the briefing to a close.

The chief medical officer and health minister are now being quizzed about the roll-out of the vaccine in NI.

Mr Swann says he does not have the cost of the vaccine to hand, but will be bringing a presentation to the executive on it tomorrow.

Dr McBride notes the vaccine "will cost many tens of millions", to purchase and to administer.

Responding to a question, Mr Swann says advice for the four nations of the UK should "provide structure and clarity" for activity over the Christmas period.

"It is about looking to the message that Christmas brings, it's that of hope," says Mr Swann.

He notes that that allowing three family groups to come together is providing the "opportunity", but that people do not necessarily need to do so.

"It is about taking that sensible approach," he adds.

It is important to get Covid transmission "as low as possible" in the run-up to Christmas, chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride says.

Ahead of two weeks of NI restrictions, Dr Michael McBride asked people to stay at home and follow the guidance.

"Do it for each other, do it for your family and friends and please do it for our health service," he continues.

Dr Michael McBride says the R-number, the rate of coronavirus transmission, remains around 1.

He says NI's hospitals remain under "significant pressure", but the number of hospital deaths linked to Covid-19 has "stabilised".

The chief medical officer says this is still "high, relatively speaking".

"We're now seeing a gradual downward trend in new cases, a slow decline in first Covid positive admissions to our hospitals, but our hospitals and other services remain under extreme pressure.

"The next two weeks provide an important opportunity to really get on top of this virus," he adds.

The number of new cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland has "declined overall", according to the chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride.

"We now have a lower incidence than England and Wales, but the incidence here in Northern Ireland remains higher than the Republic of Ireland," he says.

The number of positive tests, Dr McBride adds, sits at 8.7%, down from 10.4%.

Hospital admissions have "continued to decline, albeit slowly over the last week", he says, but this had now been "as quickly as we'd hoped".

Mr Swann now moves onto Christmas, saying it's "a time of hope and togetherness", and that rules will be relaxed for a few days over the period.

The health minister cautions that this is no reason for people to relax in stopping the spread of the virus.

"A festive free-for-all would mean a New Year crisis," he says.

He also calls for caution in the lead-up to Christmas, saying taking precautions will mean "fewer empty chairs around tables on Christmas Day".

Mr Swann now gets onto the forthcoming vaccines and says "intensive preparation" work is under way for a "mass vaccination programme" in Northern Ireland.

"There is a light at the end of this long tunnel," he says, adding that nothing "should be taken for granted".

The health minister says 600 people, including retired health care workers, have come forward to volunteer as vaccinators.

This compares to 880 vaccinators currently working in the health trusts.

Health Minister Robin Swann begins by expressing his condolences to those "who have been left grieving by this virus", and notes NI is about to enter a two-week lockdown period.

"It is crucial that we get the maximum benefit from these two weeks," he says.

He calls on the public to limit themselves to essential activity when leaving home, only for things like education, healthcare needs, and outdoor exercise.

"By staying at home you can stop the virus spreading."

Health Minister Robin Swann and chief medical officer Michael McBride are at the podium - hit the play button at the top of the page to watch live.

People from three households in Northern Ireland will be allowed to meet indoors for five days over the Christmas period, the first and deputy first ministers have said.

The decision will apply to all four devolved nations.

Three households will be allowed to bubble from 23 to 27 December.

Image source, PA Media

NI is due to begin a two-week lockdown from this Friday until 11 December, in a bid to curb the spread of the virus before Christmas.

The UK government has said anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland can travel on 22 and 28 December, but "only meet with their Christmas bubble" between 23 and 27 December.

Read more.

A £50 holiday at home voucher which was proposed by a tourism working group established by Economy Minister Diane Dodds will be “introduced when the time is right”, her department says.

Details of how the scheme will work are not yet clear.

It is intended to be used at a range of participating businesses as a way to stimulate the NI tourism sector.

Image source, PA Media

Funding was allocated to allow for the scheme in September.

Find out more.

A further seven people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in NI, the Department of Health has announced.

A total of 533 new positive cases of Covid-19 were also recorded by the department on Wednesday.

Preliminary figures from the Treasury indicate that 54,100 people in Northern Ireland remained on furlough as of 30 September.

More women than men are furloughed through the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme.

Image source, PA Media

The number of people on it in NI has continued to fall from 114,800 in July and 77,500 at the end of August.

The scheme has been extended until the end of March.

Read more.

Welcome to our live coverage of this afternoon's Covid-19 press conference at Stormont.

Health Minister Robin Swann and Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride are to address the media shortly.