Seven of NI’s hospital are currently operating at more than 100 per cent capacity - 11 Covid-19 related deaths recorded in last 24 hours

Data included in the Department of Health (DOH) Dashboard on Friday showed Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Antrim Hospital, Craigavon Hospital, Mater Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital, the South West Acute Hospital and the Ulster Hospital all operating a various different levels above 100 per cent.

A further 11 deaths have also been recorded in the last 24 hours - eight of the deaths occurred within the last 24 hours while the remaining three were recorded for the first time but occurred outside of the 24 hours to 10.00am on Friday.

Six of those to sadly pass away were male and five were female.

Four of the deceased were aged between 60 and 79 and seven were aged 80 or over.

Seven of the deaths occurred in hospitals and four occurred in residential or care homes.

The deaths occurred in the following local government districts: Belfast (three); Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (one); Lisburn and Castlereagh (one); Derry City and Strabane District Council (two); Causeway Coast and Glens (one); Mid and East Antrim (one); Mid Ulster (one) and unknown (one).

The DoH also recorded an 607 new infections - this is more than what was recorded 24 hours ago when 548 were reported.

There’s also been a slight increase in the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 from yesterday - eight additional patients in 24 hours takes the total to 443.

There are 44 individuals in intensive care unit beds with Covid-19 and there are currently 28 unoccupied ICU beds across NI (these beds are for both patients with and without Covid-19).

In terms of Northern Ireland-wide hospital bed capacity, the health service here is operating at 101 per cent capacity.