Another 20 Covid19 related deaths in NI over two days with over 1,600 new cases

By Q Radio News

Another 20 people have died in Northern Ireland after contracting Covid-19. 

The latest figures released by the Department of Health cover the past two days.

A further 1,634 positive coronavirus cases were also confirmed in the same period.

It comes as a medical expert claims that if the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca was rolled out "24/7" it could cut the time taken to immunise a large part of the UK population by half - from 50 weeks to 25 weeks.

The jab, which unlike the Pfizer one does not have to be stored at ultra low temperatures, could be approved by regulators for use in the coming days.

Dr Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, told Sky News that the Oxford vaccine "will be the one that allows us to immunise a lot of people in a short period of time.

"It is also easier to give and therefore you can carry it to nursing homes where people cannot come to the immunising centre."

He cautioned: "It will still take about 50 weeks to immunise 50 million people." But he said a "24/7" operation could cut that to 25 weeks.

"It can be done. We're an affluent nation, we've got the logistics, the skills to do these things."

Dr Pankhania also dismissed reports that the UK could be free of lockdowns by February if the Oxford vaccine is rapidly deployed.

He said: "How are you going to immunise so many people by February in the midst of an apparently more infectious strain and rising case numbers? If you're going to achieve that you need to double-up, triple-up on the immunisation process when the vaccine is licensed."