Northern Ireland

Covid-19: 16 further deaths as pressure remains on hospitals

There are 819 patients with Covid-19 in hospital including 68 in ICU, 48 of whom are on ventilators
There are 819 patients with Covid-19 in hospital including 68 in ICU, 48 of whom are on ventilators There are 819 patients with Covid-19 in hospital including 68 in ICU, 48 of whom are on ventilators

A further 16 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, taking the Department of Health's official toll to 1,763.

The department also confirmed another 550 positive cases of the virus.

There are 819 patients with Covid-19 in hospital including 68 in ICU, 48 of whom are on ventilators. Intensive care wards in the north are 80 per cent occupied.

There are 133 outbreaks in care homes.

Hotel quarantine for overseas travellers coming into Northern Ireland has been requested by Health Minister Robin Swann to suppress the deadly new Covid strains.

Correspondence seen by The Irish News reveals Mr Swann wrote to the first and deputy first ministers on Sunday seeking the “urgent” creation of a cross-departmental group to “consider options” for “enhanced quarantine” for international arrivals.

Level Five lockdown measures will continue until at least early March, under proposals to go before the Irish Cabinet today.

A Cabinet sub-committee met on Monday night to consider a range of new measures to combat the pandemic, including extending lockdown until March 5th – in line with Northern Ireland