Coronavirus: Number of NI cases continues to flat-line with no fatalities on Sunday

There was just one more coronavirus-linked death recorded at the weekend in Northern Ireland, according to the Department of Health.

On Saturday, the department reported that the total deaths was up by one on Friday to 545 and – for the first time – the figures recorded no new positive test results.

However, this does not cover all testing, some of which is done via GB, and the figures were later updated to say that there were four new positive tests from Friday into Saturday.

Sunday’s figures showed the department recorded no new deaths.

This is all part of an overall trend showing a slowdown in death numbers, which have been essentially flat-lining since the start of June.

Departmental data shows that since the start of the month, there have been nine days when no deaths were recorded at all.

There have also been nine days with just one death recorded, and three days with two deaths.

UUP health minister Robin Swann said; “We continue to make significant progress in forcing the virus into retreat.

“This is due to a massive collective effort by people across Northern Ireland.

“It is vital that we all maintain this progress and keep following public health advice on social distancing and washing our hands. Many lives have been cut short and we must always be mindful of the terrible toll Covid-19 has inflicted.”

He also said: “I want to see a way being found to permanently commemorate all those who have lost their lives in this pandemic.”

Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride meanwhile said: “Covid-19 remains a very real threat and now is not the time to drop guard. I urge everyone to keep doing the right thing in terms of hand hygiene and social distancing. Please stay safe and save lives.”

However, the actual number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in the region is likely to be significantly greater than 545, but they just do not show up yet in the Department of Health statistics.

Whereas all the figures quotedhere so far are what the department refers to as the “cumulative Covid-19 deaths”, the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) produces separate figures.

NISRA’s usual weekly update on Covid-19 deaths on Friday said that there had been 802 total deaths.

The reason for the difference?

The Department of Health figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus (regardless of whether that was the cause of death).

Meanwhile the NISRA figures are based on the information entered on death certificates, completed by medical professionals, and includes cases where a doctor had merely “noted that there was suspected or probable coronavirus infection involved in the death”.

The coronavirus death toll in the Republic of Ireland rose to 1,715 in Saturday, with a further two fatalities having been added by the National Public Health Emergency Team.

The Republic has a population of about 4.9m, compared to Northern Ireland’s roughly 1.9m.

On July 3, hotels, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, pubs and bars will be able to welcome customers back in NI.

Church services are set to resume on June 29 while a provisional date for hair salons, barbers and nail bars to reopen has been set for July 6.

Globally about 465,000 people have died according to Johns Hopkins University.

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