Northern Ireland

No further deaths linked to Covid-19 but 123 new cases recorded

<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;; ">The death toll recorded by the Department of Health remains at 2,116</span>
The death toll recorded by the Department of Health remains at 2,116 The death toll recorded by the Department of Health remains at 2,116

There have been no further deaths linked to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, the Department of Health has confirmed.

It means the death toll recorded by the department remains at 2,116.

There were 123 new cases of the virus detected after 2,159 people were tested.

There have been 977 recorded cases over the past seven days, down from 1,031 over the previous week.

In hospitals, 118 people have tested positive for coronavirus. Of these, 17 are in intensive care and nine are on ventilators.

The north's hospital beds are at 99 per cent capacity. Four hospitals are operating beyond capacity - Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.

The rolling seven-day infection rate in the north is 51.9 per 100,000 of the population, the lowest it has been since September 20.

Coronavirus outbreaks are present in five care homes.

Latest statistics on Covid-19 vaccinations show 887,598 jabs have been administered to date. Of these, 749,112 are first doses while 138,486 are second doses.

Health Minister Robin Swann said this morning he is looking forward to receiving his coronavirus vaccine as the rollout is expanded to all those aged 45 and over.

Mr Swann (49) said he will get his jab “very shortly”.

The vaccination programme was widened today to include the 45-49 age group