Another two Covid19 related deaths in Northern Ireland

By Q Radio News

Another two people have died after contracting COVID19 in Northern Ireland. 

It brings the total number of deaths recorded by the Department of Health to 2,230. 

Meanwhile, a further 1,305 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

On Tuesday morning, there were 311 Covid positive patients in hospital, with 41 in intensive care.

It comes after the chief scientific adviser revealed that some 80% of patients in hospital with Covid-19 who are aged under 60 have not been vaccinated. 

Overall in Northern Ireland around 85% of people aged 18 and over have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

A lower proportion of younger people have received the jab, 65% of 18-29-year-olds, and 72% in the 30-39-year-old age group have had their first dose.

The health minister is urging anyone in need of a jab to avail of pop-up walk-in vaccination clinics which will continue to operate throughout August and into September. 

In addition, an expanding number of community pharmacies are offering Moderna vaccine first dose appointments in Northern Ireland.

“The walk-in clinics continue to be effective at reaching people,” Robin Swann said. 

“Encouragingly, this shows that there is still demand for vaccination. 

“We will continue to work hard to keep increasing the take-up rate. 

"As well as protecting more people from the virus, this will also support our hospitals during what will be an extremely difficult autumn and winter.”

A total of 2,335,798 vaccines have been administered.