NI records lowest number of new daily infections in months - 11 additional Covid-19 related deaths recorded in last 24 hours

The Department of Health (DoH) reported, for the first time in months, fewer than 100 (79) new infections in the 24 hour period to Tuesday at 10.00am.

The total number of individuals to test positive for Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 50,143.

Sadly, the DoH has recorded 11 additional Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours - the death-toll, according to the DoH, from the beginning of the pandemic to now, stands at 947.

Seven of these deaths occurred in the last 24 hours while the remaining four deaths occurred outside of this time frame but were first officially recorded by DoH in the 24 hours to 10.00am on Tuesday.

Four of the 11 to sadly pass away were males while the remaining seven were female.

One of those to tragically die was aged between 40-59; two were aged 60-79 and eight were aged 80 or over.

The deaths occurred in the following local government districts: Belfast; Antrim and Newtownabbey; Lisburn and Castlereagh; Mid and East Antrim and Newry, Mourne and Down.

There was a slight increase (eight patients) in the number of inpatients with Covid-19 in hospitals across Northern Ireland - the most recent figure published by DoH shows 445 inpatients.

There was also some positive news concerning intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

Many of Northern Ireland’s hospitals have struggled with capacity over the last few weeks but Tuesday’s report revealed, for the first time in weeks, there is only one hospital (Causeway Hospital) without any ICU beds.

There are currently 123 ICU beds across Northern Ireland; 37 beds are occupied by patients with Covid-19; 60 beds are occupied by patients with non-Covid-19 conditions and 26 ICU beds are unoccupied.

Northern Ireland’s hospital bed capacity is maintained at 99 per cent.

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