To ask the Minister of Health what advice was provided to the Department of Education concerning the effect on the R-number of closing schools two weeks before Christmas Day.

In the period since this question was tabled the Executive has taken a series of carefully considered steps to bring us to the current position which includes schools being permitted to reopen.

The Executive's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is led by the latest medical and scientific advice and we use a broad range of data, information and statistical indicators to inform decisions. Scientific evidence used by the Executive for decision making purposes is publically available at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/covid-19-scientific-evidence