Northern Ireland

Coronavirus: 11 further deaths and 79 new cases revealed by Department of Health

Another 11 people have died after contracting Covid-19
Another 11 people have died after contracting Covid-19 Another 11 people have died after contracting Covid-19

Another 11 people have died in Northern Ireland after contracting Covid-19, the Department of Health has said.

There have now been 947 Covid-19 related deaths in the north, according to the department.

In today's daily update on the spread of the virus, 79 new cases were confirmed.

However, this number may be subject to change as the Department of Health said it has received a lower amount of information than normal on completed laboratory tests under the pillar 2 system run by the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK.

In the past seven days, 2,452 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded.

It brings the total number of infections here since the start of the pandemic to 50,143.

The Department of Health data also showed 142 care homes here now have confirmed outbreaks of the virus.

In hospitals, 445 patients have tested positive for Covid-19 with 37 of these being in intensive care beds and 29 on ventilators.

The health service remains under severe pressure, with 99 per cent of beds occupied and five hospitals operating beyond capacity.

Coronavirus: 11 further deaths and 79 new cases revealed by Department of Health
Coronavirus: 11 further deaths and 79 new cases revealed by Department of Health

Leaked photographs from inside the north's Nightingale hospital have revealed some wards are being used as storage spaces - amid claims others remain unopened due to severe nursing shortages.

Whistleblowers contacted The Irish News with images from Belfast City Hospital's main tower block which they claim exposes the impact of poor workforce planning over the past decade and cuts to student nursing places.