Northern Ireland

Number of positive Covid-19 cases in NI triples in past fortnight

The number of positive Covid-19 cases in NI has tripled in the past fortnight
The number of positive Covid-19 cases in NI has tripled in the past fortnight The number of positive Covid-19 cases in NI has tripled in the past fortnight

THE number of positive cases of coronavirus in Northern Ireland has tripled in the past fortnight, according to new figures.

A further 627 people were confirmed to have the virus yesterday - the first time since late January that the Department of Health has recorded more than 600 cases in a 24 hour period.

Figures also show how the number of cases are rising with just 198 people testing positive two weeks ago.

Over the past seven days, there have been 3,257 cases of Covid-19 - up from 2,122 in the previous week.

No deaths were recorded in the north in the past 24 hours, with the death toll remaining at 2,156.

But the number of coronavirus inpatients is also increasing.

There were 48 Covid-positive patients in hospital yesterday - up from 43 on Wednesday, with three people in intensive care.

Other figures reveal that the seven-day infection rate in the north is 172 per 100,000. The highest rate is in Derry and Strabane at 374.1 while the lowest is in Fermanagh and Omagh on 79.2.

Also to date, 2,099,174 vaccines have been administered in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, in the Republic a further 534 new cases of Covid-19 were reported.

There were 58 patients with coronavirus in hospital, including 17 in intensive care.

The Republic's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said: "Covid-19 is still circulating in our community and as we come into weekend, it is extremely important that we continue to adhere to the public health advice to stop the spread of the disease".