BREAKING: 2 new COVID-19 related deaths in NI and 4 new cases, according to Department of Health

By Peter Moor

2 new deaths linked to COVID-19 has been announced here by the Department of Health.

The death toll related to the virus therefore stands at 554.

This figure is lower than figures released today by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)

They reported 826 COVID-19 related deaths here up to 26th June.

NISRA figures relate to information entered on death certificates, completed by medical professionals.

They may or may not have previously tested positive for the virus.

Whereas. Department of Health figures are based on mainly hospital patients having previously tested positive for the virus.

The data from the Department of Health dashboard also revealed just 4 new cases of the virus here.

It brings the total number of cases in Northern Ireland to 5,747.

There are also 20 care homes currently with confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19.

12 care homes have suspected outbreaks and 143 have closed outbreaks of the virus.

The figures also provide detail of capacity in Northern Ireland's hospitals.

It revealed that out of Northern Ireland's 102 intensive care unit beds, none are occupied by patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, with 

Another 74 of the beds are taken up by non COVID-19 related patients, providing 28 spare ICU beds.