CORONAVIRUS: Single death reported in the North

A SINGLE death related to Covid-19 in the North has been reported by the Department of Health today.

This brings the total number of deaths reported by the department in the North to 505.

According to the DoH’s latest figures, a total of 4,545 have now tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of 41 positive cases since yesterday’s statistics were published.

As it stands, there are 568 suspected or confirmed Covid-19 inpatients being treated in hospitals across Northern Ireland. Of these, 10 are in Intensive Care Units.

Currently, there are active Covid-19 outbreaks in 68 care homes in the North.

Meanwhile, members of the public are being urged to keep following the public health advice if they want to roll back more restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have called on members of the public to continue to drive down the rate of infection by limiting their activities in public and acting sensibly.

Mrs Foster said, “In recent days, this Executive, guided by the scientific and medical advice, has begun to relax restrictions that we had no choice but to impose. Restoring those liberties in the face of a deadly virus has been hard won.

“We can win back even more if everyone remains patient, remains disciplined and remains focused on controlling the rate of infection.

“In the absence of a vaccine, the threat from the virus is no less than it was when we had to impose lockdown.

“Covid-19 is still lurking. It thrives when people become complacent. It spreads when people become blasé about public health advice and it kills when people start acting as if the threat is no longer with us.”