Weekly Covid death rate now less than 10 per cent of NI’s peak in late April

But the number of excess deaths during the pandemic has now crossed 1,000.

The number of excess deaths — the number of fatalities above the five-year average for the time of year — stands at 1,001 for the period from March 19 when the first coronavirus death was recorded until last Friday (June 26).

This comes as the health minister, Robin Swann, urges the public to take part in nationwide applause at 5pm tomorrow to mark the 72nd anniversary of the NHS.

Mr Swann said the occasion “provides an opportunity for us all to express our gratitude to staff” for their efforts throughout the pandemic.

He added: “Supporting the health service is about much more than applause. We have to keep doing everything we can to stop the spread of the virus.

“It is essential that the health service is protected from a second wave of infections.

“Please keep doing the right thing.”

His comments came after it emerged that Covid-19 was mentioned on 12 death certificates last week (June 20-26), according to the latest data from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

In the last two weeks in April, the figures were 128 and 124 — more than 10 times the latest figures.

The NISRA statistics show that, in total, 824 coronavirus deaths were registered by June 26.

Most of the people who lost their lives to the virus were care home residents — 417 of whom died in a care home and 74 of whom died in hospital.

NISRA stress, however, that “no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease”.

The number of care homes where health authorities are currently dealing with a confirmed outbreak now stands at 20, with 143 further outbreaks having been ‘closed’ since the pandemic began.

The latest figures from the Department of Health at Stormont, meanwhile, show that there are now just 12 hospital beds occupied by coronavirus patients in Northern Ireland.

There are also are no longer any coronavirus patients in intensive care in Northern Ireland, nor any patients requiring the use of a ventilator.

At the height of the pandemic, there were 186 beds occupied, with 44 people in intensive care and 49 people requiring ventilation.

There was one further death due to the virus recorded by the Department of Health yesterday.

Two more deaths with Covid-19 have been reported in Northern Ireland, bringing the overall total to 554 — based on patients who had previously tested positive for the virus, rather than information entered on death certificates.

Tomorrow, Parliament Buildings at Stormont will be lit in blue to mark the NHS anniversary. Assembly speaker Alex Maskey said: “The NHS is one of our most cherished institutions.”