Coronavirus NI: Death toll reaches 996 after 10 more people lose life - 290 new infections - 427 people in NI hospitals with virus and 36 in ICU - 131 casesin NI Care Homes

The 10 people died within the last 24 hours.

This means that 996 people have now died with the virus in NI.

Meanwhile, another 290 people have tested positive for having the deadly virus, in the last 24 hours.

In the last 7 days a total of 2,505 have tested positive for having COVID-19 in NI.

A total of 427 people are now being treated in our hospitals for COVID-19 and 36 people are fighting for their lives with the virus in ICU.

Meanwhile there are now 131 cases of COVID-19 in NI Care Homes.

The news comes after it emerged that the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme could begin by mid-December.

According to the BBC it is widely anticipated that the regulatory body will approve two vaccines this week, which will allow plans to become official.

A digital booking system for healthcare workers is also being set up.

Timings will be critical as people receiving their vaccine will have to socially distance and be monitored for 15 minutes afterwards.

Once the regulatory medicines body, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), gives the vaccines the go-ahead - a move widely anticipated to happen this week - plans around accepting, storing and delivering them will be firmed up.

It is thought Oxford’s AstraZenica vaccine - the more easily stored of the two - will be used by GPs to vaccinate those aged 80 and over, while Pfizer’s vaccine will be rolled out among healthcare staff and residents of care homes.