NI records 16 additional Covid deaths and 550 new infections in last 24 hours

The deaths recorded in the last 24 hours takes the total number of Covid related deaths in Northern Ireland since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,763.

The 16 deaths occurred in the following local council areas: Belfast (one); Armagh (one); Antrim and Newtownabbey (two); Mid and East Antrim (two); Mid Ulster (one); Lisburn and Castlereagh (two); Newry, Mourne and Down (one); Derry City and Strabane (one); Ards (three) and Fermanagh (two).

Seven of the 16 people to sadly pass away were male and nine were female.

Eleven of the deceased were aged 80 or older and five were aged between 60 and 79 years-old.

The DoH also recorded 550 new infections in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours.

This means the total number of people to test positive for Covid in the last seven days and since the beginning of the pandemic is 4,583 and 101,291 respectively.

There are currently 819 patients in hospitals across Northern Ireland with Covid-19.

There are 68 patients with Covid in intensive care units (ICUs); 57 patients with non-Covid conditions and 31 unoccupied ICU beds.

The current hospital bed capacity across Northern Ireland is currently at 95 per cent.