No further coronavirus deaths recorded in Northern Ireland

By Cate McCurry, PA

There have been no further deaths of people who previously tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

Another 159 confirmed cases of the virus were recorded by the Department of Health in the last 24-hour reporting period.

On Saturday, there were 156 Covid-positive confirmed inpatients in hospital, of whom 18 were in ICU.

The number of positive cases in the last seven days stands at 1,085, a drop of 234 cases in the week previous.

The number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus since the outbreak began last February now stands at 115,807.

On Friday, Stormont’s Health Minister urged continued vigilance in the battle against Covid-19.

Robin Swann insisted better days were to come but warned of the threat still posed by the virus.

The deaths of a further three people who previously tested positive for Covid-19 were reported by Mr Swann’s department on Friday.

The fatalities took to 2,103 the total number of deaths recorded by the Department of Health since the pandemic began.

The overall number of deaths linked to the virus is higher, as the departmental data only relates to those who have tested positive.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) collates information on all deaths in which Covid-19 has been recorded on a death certificate by a medical professional, whether the person had tested positive or not.

The Nisra toll, which is reported with a week lag, stood at 2,877 on March 12.

As of Friday lunchtime, 726,290 vaccines had been administered in the region – 655,581 first doses and 70,709 second doses.

Health authorities in the region have moved to reassure the public that recent problems with the UK supply of AstraZeneca jabs will not have a significant impact on the rollout plan for Northern Ireland, with a delay of around two weeks estimated.