Northern Ireland

Coronavirus: 16 further deaths and 439 new cases confirmed in Northern Ireland

Covid is overwhelming our hospitals, with patients treated in ambulances at Antrim Area Hospital last  week. Picture by Mal McCann
Covid is overwhelming our hospitals, with patients treated in ambulances at Antrim Area Hospital last  week. Picture by Mal McCann Covid is overwhelming our hospitals, with patients treated in ambulances at Antrim Area Hospital last  week. Picture by Mal McCann

Another 16 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19, the Department of Health has confirmed.

Four of those deaths occurred outside the 24-hour reporting period.

The total number of fatalities recorded by the department is now 1,219 with 75 of those occurring in the past seven days.

There were 439 new cases of the virus recorded in the last 24 hours.

Latest figures show hospitals under continued pressure with bed capacity at 100 per cent as the north's health service tries to cope with the pandemic and an increased winter demand for services.

There are currently 447 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals, 30 of whom are in intensive care with 23 of these on ventilators.

Coronavirus: 16 further deaths and 439 new cases confirmed in Northern Ireland
Coronavirus: 16 further deaths and 439 new cases confirmed in Northern Ireland

Six hospitals are operating beyond capacity; Antrim, Causeway, Daisy Hill, the Mater, Royal Victoria and South West Acute.

There are 86 outbreaks in care homes around the north.

Today's figures were released after the Stormont executive voted against imposing a travel ban from Britain into Northern Ireland after fears over the spread of a new Covid-19 variant in south-east England.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP backed a ban but the DUP, Alliance and UUP opposed the measure.

It was unanimously agreed to back plans to issue new guidance against all but essential travel between Northern Ireland, Britain and the Republic.

Meanwhile, there have been a further 13 deaths in the Republic and 970 new cases.