One more death and 98 people test positive for Covid-19 in last 24 hours - increased testing being carried out with 48,850 tests in last seven days

The death toll here of people with Covid-19 is now 2,144.

Meanwhile in the same time period 98 people tested positive for the infection.

That number rises to 643 for the last seven days.

A total of 119,992 people have now tested positive in NI.

In the last seven days 48,850 individuals were tested for Covid-19 - this is up from 30,836 the previous week.

Meanwhile there are now 60 patients with confirmed cases of Covid-19 in our hospitals - and there are now eight patients with the virus in ICU.

There are now four patients with Covid-19 in NI Care Homes.

The news comes as Health Minister Robin Swann has announced a further expansion to the current asymptomatic testing programme for workforces.

All organisations with 10 or more employees or volunteers, who cannot work from home, can now access the workforce asymptomatic testing programme. Previously this was open to organisations with more than 50 employees.

Minister Swann said: “Since the launch of the Northern Ireland asymptomatic testing programme there has been a great deal of interest from employers with 321 expressions of interest made. These have come from organisations and companies in the public, private and third sectors.

“This is a significant move in the testing programme as up to one third of people who have coronavirus are asymptomatic. My Department is focusing on rapidly identifying these people to isolate and reduce transmission of the virus. This will be essential as Northern Ireland moves out of lockdown.

“The further extension will enable even more organisations to take advantage of this important weapon in the fight against Covid-19.”

Provision has also been made to enable small businesses and organisations with 10 or less employees to access rapid LFD tests. The range of options will be expanding over the coming weeks but currently includes a LFD Collect service from Local Testing Sites and a Home Delivery service.

Further details of the programme, and information on what it means for employers, are available on the Department’s website at: www.health-ni.gov.uk/workforce-testing and NI Business Info website at: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-workplace-covid-19-testing-key-sector-employers.

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