Coronavirus NI: Death toll jumps to 1,203 after seven more lives lost with COVID-19 - 555 more infections - 446 in NI hospitals and 30 in ICU - 95% occupancy of our hospitals

The death toll in NI is now 1,203 after a further seven deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the latest Department of Health dashboard.
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There are now 446 people with Coronavirus in NI hospitals - and 30 people fighting for their lives in ICU.

Meanwhile in the last 24 hours a further 555 people tested positive for COVID-19. This means that within the last seven days a total of 3,965 people tested positive.

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And there are now 87 active COVID-19 outbreaks in NI Care Homes.

The news comes as Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann said he was giving guidance for people from Northern Ireland to only travel for essential purposes.

Ministers are considering strengthening a travel locator form for anyone travelling into higher tiered parts of the UK.

He referenced the lorries backed up in Dover and said it was important to safeguard Northern Ireland’s food and medicine supplies.

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Mr Swann added Stormont ministers were taking a “balanced and precautionary” approach but the new strain was a cause of serious concern.

Hospitals could be 'overwhelmed'Hospitals could be 'overwhelmed'
Hospitals could be 'overwhelmed'

He told a Stormont Assembly committee: “Act on the assumption that it is already present.”

He said people should behave like those they met on the street or were standing next to in the queue had the more virulent strain.

Stormont education minister Peter Weir has faced calls for changes to schools provision due to the rising infection rate.

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Robin Swann also said: “I do not believe that a return to school as normal in January is a sustainable position.

“My view on this matter is informed by advice from the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser.”

He said they were attempting to suppress Covid-19 transmission at such a critical phase.

“All options should be considered.”

Earlier in the Assembly Health Minister Robin Swann said: “The Health Service has been under-invested for 10 years and now we are running a transformation service,

“Our biggest pressures are on our staff. We are doing as much as we possibly can. I wish we were in a better place, but we are not.”