Another 12 Covid-19 related deaths and 1,801 new cases in Northern Ireland

By Q Radio News

Another 12 people have died in Northern Ireland after contracting Covid-19. 

It brings the total number of fatalities recorded by the Department of Health to 1,366. 

A further 1,801 people have tested positive for coronavirus within the past 24 hours. 

BREAKING:

📍 12 more coronavirus related deaths in NI according to @healthdpt - bringing death toll to 1,366.

📍 1801 cases confirmed since yesterday

📍12507 positive cases in past 7 days

📍 527 covid-19 inpatients

📍 39 in ICU and 29 on ventilators pic.twitter.com/kT9IhVjWHg

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 4, 2021

It comes amid growing concern over the sharp rise in cases here at a time when the NHS is normally overwhelmed with winter pressures. 

A total of 12,507 cases new cases have been confirmed in the last seven days with 527 people currently being treated in hospital. 

Of that number 39 are in ICU with 29 on ventilators. 

It comes as Eileen Lynch, 94, became one of the first people in Northern Ireland to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

It was delivered at a GP surgery on the Falls Road in West Belfast on Monday afternoon.

Up to 11,000 people aged over 80 are set to receive the vaccination this week.

Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said: “It is a step change in terms of the vaccine programme, because this is (a programme) that will allow us to get the vaccine out to people through general practices and what we now need to do is continue to vaccinate those most vulnerable and at risk as safely and quickly as we possibly can.”

He added: “It most certainly is a game changer.

“It is what we have been waiting for.”