Northern Ireland

No further Covid-19 deaths as 97 new cases recorded

<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;; ">There are 84 Covid-positive patients in hospital</span>
There are 84 Covid-positive patients in hospital There are 84 Covid-positive patients in hospital

There have been no further Covid-19 deaths recorded by the Department of Health in the past 24 hours.

Another 97 cases of the virus were notified by the department.

There are 84 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom eight are in intensive care. Six are on ventilators.

Hospital beds in the north are at 96 per cent occupancy. The South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen is operating beyond capacity.

The seven-day infection rate in the north is 38.1 per 100,000.

The area with the highest infection rate is Derry and Strabane on 86.3, while the lowest is Mid and East Antrim on 17.3.

There are five outbreaks of coronavirus in care homes.

To date in the north, 1,025,912 vaccinations have taken place. Of these, 826,412 were first doses while 199,500 were second doses.

Speaking this morning, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she is hopeful the Stormont executive could agree a timetable for the reopening of more sections of society at a meeting on Thursday.

First Minister Arlene Foster has already expressed hope that opening dates for close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, and non-essential retail can be announced later this week.

A further 394 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland. No further deaths linked to the virus have been recorded.

As of 8am there were 227 people with the disease in hospital, 50 of whom were in ICU.

There were 22 additional hospitalisations in a 24-hour period. The Republic's 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population stands at 131.9.