BREAKING: 3 new deaths from COVID-19, according to Department of Health

By Peter Moor

3 new deaths linked to COVID-19 have been announced by the Department of Health.

1 of these deaths have occurred since yesterday.

The Department of Health data shows that 504 people have now died as a result of COVID-19.

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

They reported 689 COVID-19 related deaths here.

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.

Today's Department of Health figures also show that a total of 4,504 people have tested positive for Coronavirus in the region, after a further 23 new cases were confirmed. 

The data from the Department of Health dashboard also revealed 72 care homes currently have confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19.

36 care homes have suspected outbreaks and 36 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 101 intensive care unit beds, 13 are occupied by patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

Another 64 of the beds are taken up by non COVID-19 related patients, providing 24 spare ICU beds.