Three further patients who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 have died in Northern Ireland.
Another 3,231 cases of the virus were also notified by the department of health on Wednesday.
It is the highest number of daily cases reported in Northern Ireland since the pandemic started.
It includes cases confirmed from samples taken in recent days, not necessarily just in the latest 24-hour reporting period.
On Wednesday morning, there were 261 Covid-positive patients in hospital, compared to 268 yesterday. There are 34 in intensive care, the same number as yesterday.
Northern Ireland's seven day infection rate is now sitting at 846.3 per 100,000 - a record high.
#CovidNI | Wed, Dec 22nd
— Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) December 22, 2021
132 hospital admissions in past wk
Down from 159 previous wk
261 inpatients at midnight
Down from 335 seven days ago
34 Covid ICU beds occupied today
Same as yesterday
232 covid occupied beds
Down from 248 yesterday