Another 22 people die in Northern Ireland after contracting COVID19

By Q Radio News

A further 22 deaths with coronavirus have been reported in Northern Ireland bringing the region’s toll to 1,498.

Due to technical issues, the Department of Health #COVID19 dashboard update is delayed today.

Data on testing and hospitalisations is not yet available.

However the increased death toll comes after Health unions in Northern Ireland warned that members are frightened about what's to come over the next few weeks in the fight against Covid-19. 

Hospitals are preparing for the third surge of the Coronavirus pandemic which is expected to be the worst.

Health minister Robin Swann is due to update the Stormont Executive on the preparedness of the NHS.

Latest modelling shows the region's R-number is sitting at about 1.1-1.2; that's a drop from around 1.8 at the start of January.

At the weekend, some health trusts were close to calling a major incident forcing them to call in off-duty healthcare workers, to deal with the pressures.

All of Northern Ireland's health trusts have also warned the number of people with Covid-19 in hospital here, will double by the third of week of January compared to the current figures.