A record number of Covid-19 cases have been confirmed by the Department of Health in its daily update on the pandemic.
In the last 24-hour reporting period, 2,397 cases were recorded. The previous highest total was 2,297 on December 29 last year.
Nine further deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have also been recorded.
It brings the total number of deaths to 2,287.
This morning, there were 388 Covid-positive patients in hospital, with 47 in intensive care, 33 of whom are on ventilators.
Hospital bed occupancy is at 101 per cent with five hospitals currently operating beyond capacity; Antrim Hospital, Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, the Royal Victoria Hospital in west Belfast, the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.
The seven-day infection rate in the north per 100,000 has risen to 605.2. The rate in Fermanagh and Omagh has exceeded 1,000 for the first time.
#Coronavirus
— Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) August 20, 2021
Fri, Aug 20th
7 day rate / 100,000
Northern Ireland rate: 605.2
Highest in 7months+
Fermanagh & Omagh: 1,034.1
Derry & Strabane: 901.6
Belfast: 593.8
Armagh, B & C 591.6
Mid Ulster: 570.3
More...
— Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) August 20, 2021
Mid & East Antrim 562.2
Causeway C & Glens: 539.9
Newry, M & Down: 507.3
Antrim & N’abbey. 494.1
Lisburn & C’reagh: 421.9
Ards & N. Down : 403.8
There are 134 outbreaks in care homes.
A total of 2,395,542 vaccines have been administered.