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Stormont’s executive ministers are holding an emergency meeting following a dispute over whether a travel ban should be introduced.
Health Minister Robin Swann recommended issuing a guide that discourages non-essential travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
Swann has also warned that anyone arriving in the region isolate themselves for 10 days.
Health Minister Robin Swann is under pressure to act urgently
It is understood that Sinn Fein Finance Minister Conor Murphy wrote to Swann expressing “dismay and amazement” that he is not immediately moving to instigate a travel ban between Northern Ireland and Britain.
Murphy asked Swann to reconsider the position he has established in a document that he distributed to his ministerial colleagues before a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
The meeting was called on short notice Monday, in response to the newer and more infectious variant of COVID-19. The mutation has been officially found everywhere in the UK except Northern Ireland.
Ministers have debated the possibility of amending the 1967 Public Health Act to introduce short-term travel restrictions.
While Sinn Fein supports the measure, the DUP insists that internal UK travel is already banned in Level 4 areas in England, so there’s no need to add Stormont legislation to enforce that.
Earlier, DUP Prime Minister Arlene Foster warned of serious ramifications if a travel ban was introduced.
Ms Foster said that the new strain of coronavirus has likely already reached Northern Ireland and warned that supply chains could be in jeopardy by restricting travel.
“It’s a very simplistic thing to say, ‘let’s close Northern Ireland,'” he said.
“That has ramifications and, as Prime Minister, I must take them into account as well.
“I have always tried to be proportionate and balanced in everything I have done during this crisis, and I will continue to do so.”
Fears of the new variant of the coronavirus have prompted some 40 countries to effectively cut travel with the UK and have also tightened travel rules within Britain.
Health officials in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands went so far as to urge anyone arriving from areas in England with the most severe restrictions – and travelers from Wales – to “assume” they have the new mutation and self-isolate for 10 days.
The government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group (NERVTAG) met early Monday and Sir Patrick revealed that there was now a “reinforced” view that the variant strain was spreading more rapidly.
“The conclusion was that the experts have great confidence that this is more easily transmitted,” added Sir Patrick.
“That again reinforces the point that it’s important to get ahead of this and make sure the tier system is right to stop things, and not look at it and react in hindsight.”
