Nightclubs in Northern Ireland will close from Boxing Day as part of new COVID measures.

It comes on the same day the nation recorded 3,231 daily cases – the highest number since the onset of the pandemic.

The Omicron variant is now the dominant strain of coronavirus in Northern Ireland, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill told a press conference this afternoon.

And Ms O’Neill warned the “scale of transmission” will be “hugely challenging” and is set to create “significant pressures” on healthcare.

In response, Stormont is introducing a number of measures – including guidance suggesting people limit mixing to a maximum of three households from 27 December.

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