Over 50 new coronavirus cases as Executive set to meet to discuss restrictions

By PA reporter and Q Radio news

Another 51 people in Northern Ireland have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Department of Health.

Some 298 people have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, bringing the total in the region to 6,556.

No further deaths with Covid-19 have been reported leaving the tally in the region, according to the department, at 559.

It comes as the Executive is set to meet later today to discuss the possibility of tightening COVID-19 related restrictions.

With increasing rates of the virus in Northern Ireland, the Health Minister Robin Swann is expected to advocate for tighter rules to be put back into place.

Robin Swann will reccommend a number of measures to the Executive today.

He said these could include reducing the number of people who can meet together in a household, as well as indoor and outdoor gatherings, and sporting events.

“At this minute in time we cannot put our finger on any specific either location or activity or industry as to a cause of the number of increases in positive tests that we have seen,” he told the BBC.

“There’s no one trend across Northern Ireland causing these increases; if there was, it would be very easy for us to act. Because we are seeing that mixture, that’s why we’re looking at the introduction of a more generic reduction on relaxations.”