Nine more people die with COVID-19 in NI - bringing death toll to 347

The latest deaths brings the confirmed total here to 347.

Speaking at the assembly's Ad-hoc Committee on the Covid -19 Mr Swann said the first death from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland was recorded on 19 March.

"Since then we have seen 3,536 confirmed cases of the disease and, sadly, today I announce a further nine deaths. That brings the total to 347 souls that have been lost," the minister says.

He says the figure includes a number of people who have died at home, in residential and nursing homes and in hospices.

Health Minister Robin Swann added that there were 2,243 tests carried out yesterday in relation to Covid-19 - the biggest total to date.

Up to 300 people will be employed in a new pilot contact tracing system in NI to deal with the pandemic.

Mr Swann added that the Health Service has been "running on empty" and "living hand-to-mouth" for the last 10 years.

He called for the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic response to be a resolution to “do better by the Health Service.”

He said it needs to be better funded and also needs transformational changes.