All surgeries cancelled in Belfast hospitals as Covid cases soar

A Trust statement said: “We are fully aware of the level of anxiety and concern Covid-19 has caused our service users since March 2020 and we apologise for the distress these further steps will cause,” the trust said in a statement.

“We will rearrange this surgery as soon as possible and we will do everything we can to ensure continuity of care throughout this challenging time.

“We are also actively considering moving many outpatient appointments to virtual appointments in order to reduce footfall on our sites and to encourage the public to stay home whenever possible.”

The Department of Health reported a further 13 coronavirus-related deaths in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

The department’s death toll now stands at 1,397.

There were also 1,985 new positive cases of coronavirus diagnosed.

In the Republic of Ireland, there were 17 further deaths and 7,836 new cases reported on Wednesday.

The Westminster government said that, across the UK, a further 1,041 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday – the highest daily reported total since April 21. It brings the UK total to 77,346.