Rules on self-isolation in Northern Ireland are to be relaxed, Stormont ministers have agreed. People who are close contacts of positive cases will no longer have to isolate for 10 days, as long as they test negative and have had both jabs of a Covid-19 vaccine, the PA news agency understands.
The move, which was agreed at a virtual meeting of the powersharing Executive and comes into effect on Monday, brings Northern Ireland into line with rule changes already agreed for the rest of the UK.
At Thursday's meeting, ministers also agreed to end class bubbling arrangements in schools. However, ministers decided to retain the use of face coverings in post-primary school classrooms for the first six weeks of the new term.