Northern Ireland

Two more Covid-19 deaths as numbers in Northern Ireland continue to fall

Northern Ireland has 216 hospital beds occupied by Covid-19 patients - 29 in intensive care. Picture by AP Photo
Northern Ireland has 216 hospital beds occupied by Covid-19 patients - 29 in intensive care. Picture by AP Photo Northern Ireland has 216 hospital beds occupied by Covid-19 patients - 29 in intensive care. Picture by AP Photo

TWO more people have died with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, as statistics show the death toll dropped for a sixth week in a row.

The Department of Health said another 166 people have also tested positive for the virus, with 216 hospital beds occupied by coronavirus patients yesterday - 29 of them in intensive care.

The daily tally came as latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) - which have a week lag - indicate that 44 Covid-linked deaths occurred in the week ending February 26.

Total deaths to that date in the pandemic stood at 2,816, with the weekly number falling steadily from 156 in the week January 9 to 15.

The department's total stood at 2,054 on February 26.

Its figures focus on hospital deaths and people who have tested positive for the virus, while Nisra obtains its data from death certificates on which Covid-19 is recorded as a factor.

In the Republic there were nine further deaths reported yesterday and another 522 infections.

A total of 426 Covid-19 patients were in hospitalis yesterday morning, of which 102 were in intensive care.

Meanwhile, more than 600,000 vaccine doses have now been administered in Northern Ireland.

The total is significantly ahead of the schedule followed by planners of the massive logistics effort, Health Minister Robin Swann said.

Health trust Covid-19 vaccination centres have this week begun inoculating those aged 60 to 64, as well as carers.

Mr Swann said: "I know the huge amount of planning and hard work that has gone into delivering this highly complex programme and I want to thank all of our vaccinators, administrators and volunteers who are making this happen.

"Every jab takes us further down the pathway towards a better and safer future."

The latest running total shows 609,798 vaccines administered. Of these, 568,011 are first doses and 41,787 second doses.

To date 44,000 people who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) have been reached.

GP practices are also vaccinating carers who are known to doctors and they are also making good progress in the vaccination of people on their patient lists who are either CEV or clinically vulnerable to the virus.

Almost 123,000 health and social care staff have been vaccinated.

Patricia Donnelly, head of the vaccination programme, said: "This has been another outstanding week for our vaccination teams and with a good supply of vaccine to hand, we are moving forward at pace.

"I would urge all who are eligible but who have not stepped forward yet to make their appointments as soon as possible....

"In addition, we will receive a boost in supplies of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine which means we can use it in some of our regional vaccination centres, as well as in GP practices and pharmacies.

"This is very welcome news."

In the Republic, some 84,000 vaccines are due to be administered next week, falling short of its weekly target because of ongoing supply issues.

The health service has struggled to ramp up its rollout of the vaccine after manufacturer AstraZeneca said there will be a shortfall of 75,000 doses over two weeks.