Northern Ireland

Coronavirus: One further death and record 424 new cases confirmed in Northern Ireland

The Department of Health has reported another record number of Covid-19 cases 
The Department of Health has reported another record number of Covid-19 cases  The Department of Health has reported another record number of Covid-19 cases 

A record 424 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, the Department of Health has said.

It is the second consecutive day that the number of coronavirus cases has hit a new high in the department's daily update, with today's figure standing at 104 more than yesterday's record figure of 320.

In the past seven days, the Department of Health has recorded 1,950 new cases of coronavirus.

One more person has died in the north having contracted COVID-19, according to today's update.

The total number of deaths recorded by the department stands at 579

There has also been a sharp increase in the number of hospital patients who have tested positive for the virus. There are currently 67 patients with Covid-19 in the north's hospitals, 10 of whom are in intensive care. Seven of these patients have been ventilated.

Earlier today it was confirmed that one patient and five members of staff in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital have tested positive for Covid-19.

Figures released yesterday showed that the rate of positive cases in the north stands at 80 per 100,000. The rate in the Derry and Strabane area is now almost three times the Northern Ireland-wide figure at 235 cases per 100,000.

Meanwhile, one death and a further 429 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in the Republic of Ireland, the National Public Health Emergency Team said.

A total of 20 people are in intensive care. The positivity rate of tests is at 2.8% over the past seven days.