Four more Covid related deaths in Northern Ireland and over 1,400 new cases

By Q Radio News

Four more people have died after contracting COVID19 in Northern Ireland. 

It brings the total number of fatalities recorded by the Department of Health to 2,213. 

A further 1,434 new coronavirus cases have also been confirmed in the past 24 hours.

There are currently 226 Covid-positive patients in hospital including 37 who are in intensive care.

Meanwhile, the first coronavirus jabs are now on offer for healthy 16-year-olds as latest estimates show Covid infection levels in three of the UK’s four nations have fallen.

Walk-ins are open to older teenagers in Northern Ireland from Friday, just two days after it was announced the vaccine rollout was being extended to 16 and 17-year-olds.

Pfizer doses are available at regional vaccination centres and pop-up walk-in vaccine clinics.

Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann said he had asked his officials to ensure the new recommendation, issued on Wednesday from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), was implemented “as quickly as possible”.

The extension of the rollout means all of the UK’s 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-olds will now be eligible to get a first dose.

Under previous guidance some under-18s had already been eligible for a jab if they had certain health conditions, live with someone who is immunocompromised or were approaching their 18th birthday.