Northern Ireland

PSNI cite 67 private homes for Covid-19 breaches in seven days as house parties continue

SIXTY-seven more private homes have been cited by police for breaking coronavirus restrictions in the past week - compared with nine commercial premises.

The figures suggest house parties have been continuing during the same period that there has been an "alarming rise" in cases of the potentially deadly virus.

Nine more people have also been handed £1,000 fines for failing to self-isolate - a restriction imposed on those returning from trips to countries not on the so-called green list of 'safe' destinations.

There have now been 36 people caught by police flouting the regulation.

Officers have also issued 1,321 penalty notices - 165 in the last seven days.

Starting at a £60 fine and rising to a maximum of £960, they are issued to over 18s only.

There have also been 947 Community Resolution Notices - 147 more than last year.

Despite Belfast's positive tests per 100,000 of the population being three-quarters that of Derry and Strabane district, PSNI action in the latter has been just 35 per cent of its activity in Belfast, where it has issued 1,129 enforcement actions since March.