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First Minister Arlene Foster addressed the daily news conference at Stormont Image caption: First Minister Arlene Foster addressed the daily news conference at Stormont

Vulnerable people in Northern Ireland who were urged to shield during the coronavirus pandemic may be allowed to go outside again from next week, leaders at Stormont have announced.

Advice to the 80,000 shielding will change from next Monday if the transmission rate of the virus remains below one.

As is currently the situation in England, those shielding will be able to go outside with people from their own household, or one person from another household, providing social distancing is observed.

First Minister Arlene Foster said changes to shielding advice would be a "reasonable and proportionate first step".

"If the rate of transmission continues on a downward trend - and of course we all hope that it does - then, in consultation with our scientific and medical advisers, we will consider further relaxations for those who are shielding," she said.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill stressed that the safest place for those shielding was still at home.

"It is crucially important that you are very strict about maintaining social distancing," she said.