Covid deaths recorded in all 11 council areas in NI in last 24 hours

A total of 17 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours however nine of 17 deaths occurred in the last 24 hours and eight occurred outside of this time frame but were officially recorded for the first time.

The DoH defines a Covid-19 related death as a death that occurs in a person within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

The total number of Covid-19 related deaths recorded by the DoH in Northern Ireland since the beginning of the pandemic is now 1,878.

The 17 deaths occurred in the following council areas: Belfast (one); Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (two); Antrim and Newtownabbey (two); Mid and East Antrim (two); Mid Ulster (one); Causeway, Coast and Glens (one); Newry, Mourne and Down (one); Lisburn and Castlereagh (one); Derry City and Strabane (one); Ards (one); Fermanagh and Omagh (three) and unknown (one).

Two of the 17 people to die were aged between 40-59; three aged between 60-79 and 12 aged between 80 or older.

Nine of those to sadly pass away were female and eight were male.

The DoH also recorded an additional 447 new infections in the last 24 hours.

It takes the total number to test positive for Covid-19 in the last seven days and since the beginning of the pandemic to 3,517 and 104,721 respectively.

There are 716 inpatients in hospital in Northern Ireland with Covid-19 - 19 fewer than this time yesterday.

There 150 intensive care unit (ICU) beds in Northern Ireland; 66 of which are occupied by patients with Covid-19; 51 by patients without Covid-19 and 33 are unoccupied.

Hospital bed capacity across Northern Ireland is currently at 92 per cent.