Good morning

In a change of Covid protection policy, the Department of Health (DoH) is now advising those most vulnerable to avoid attending their workplace from December 26 onwards – even if social distancing measures are in place. The department has also said that those in the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) category should not “form a Christmas bubble,” and to avoid attending shops, pharmacies and hospitality setting unless absolutely necessary.

Police are investigating 120 incidents where fraudsters posed as PSNI officers. Detectives are advising the public to be on their guard following a number of fraudulent calls throughout 2020 where fraudsters have been posing as police officers requesting money from potential victims.

Goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain that fail to pass new Brexit checks will be sent back, Northern Ireland’s chief vet has warned. Robert Huey said while he wanted to take a pragmatic approach to enforcement, he had to comply with new Irish Sea trading laws agreed as part of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

• Must read: 
  
  Ruth Dudley Edwards: Nationalists do not own the poet Seamus Heaney in the same way that unionists do not own Mary Peters
  
  Jonny McCambridge: My news review of 2020: Coronavirus, royal ructions and nits.
  
  NI church leaders deliver their Christmas messages - ‘Few people have loved 2020. All cannot wait until things move into a new year’

Have a good day and keep safe.

Michael Cousins

Deputy digital editor

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