22 additional Covid related deaths and 1,205 new infections in last 24 hours

Eighteen of the deaths occurred in the last 24 hours while four occurred outside that time but were recorded for the first time.

It takes the total number of Covid-19 related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,498.

The 22 deaths occurred in the following Northern Ireland council areas: Belfast (five); Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (two); Antrim and Newtownabbey (two); Mid and East Antrim (two); Mid Ulster (three); Causeway, Coast and Glens (four); Newry Mourne and Down (one); Ards (one) and unknown (two).

Eight of those to sadly die were female and 14 were male.

One individual who sadly passed away was aged between 40 and 59 years-old; 14 were aged between 60 and 79 and seven were aged 80 or older.

Four of the deaths occurred in a residential/care home facility and 18 occured in a hospital setting.

The DoH also recorded an additional 1,205 new infections in the last 24 hours.

It takes takes the total number of individuals in Northern Ireland to test positive for Covid-19 to 90,664.

One positive piece of data revealed that while, on average, 1,000 people per day are testing positive for Covid-19 the spread of the virus is beginning to slow down.

The number of infection in the last seven days on Tuesday January 5, 2021 was 13,237 however seven days later that figure has decreased to 8,802.

This data also tells us that 22,039 individuals tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 14 days - that accounts for just under 25 per cent of all infections since the beginning of the pandemic.