Covid cases here hit 100,000 milestone as 14 more deaths confirmed

Q Radio News

The number of coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland has surpassed the 100,000 mark.

The Department of Health confirmed a further 433 new cases of the virus on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases to 100,319 since the pandemic began.

A further 14 deaths were reported on Sunday – 13 in the past 24 hours.

There were 796 patients with Covid-19 in hospital on Sunday morning including 74 in intensive care.

The occupancy rate of the region’s hospitals was 88%, down from 92% on Saturday.

The incidence rate per 100,000 population over the last seven days stood at 271.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon is the area with the highest rate at 488, followed by Mid Ulster at 428, and Newry Mourne and Down at 298.

Derry City and Strabane has the lowest rate at 150.

Pressures continued at local hospitals over the weekend:

Western Trust: “Our Emergency Dept at Altnagelvin Hospital is extremely busy this evening. Pls only come to #AltnagelvinED if you have a medical or mental health emergency. Patients with serious illnesses / life threatening injuries will be seen first.” pic.twitter.com/s4VsbDXFvu

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 24, 2021

First Minister Arlene Foster said on Sunday that people needed to work together and adhere to public health measures to “overcome this dreadful virus”.

The post-Christmas lockdown was extended by Stormont ministers on Thursday for a further four weeks until March 5. It had been scheduled to end next month.

Transmission rates are decreasing slowly and new, more contagious variants are causing Stormont ministers concern.

The restrictions ultimately may not be lifted until after Easter.

Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Mrs Foster said: “I have often said, none of this is inevitable. What we need to have is people working with us so that we can overcome this dreadful virus.

“Now that we have the vaccine programme running so effectively in Northern Ireland, that gives a lot of hope for people in the future. We just need to keep working together and make sure we get to the end of this journey and make sure we get through it so that we can rebuild our economy and society.”

The DUP leader said it was important for the community to realise the pressure on the region’s hospitals and support health care workers by adhering to restrictions.

“It is important that we all stick together but also recognise the help that we are getting from the military, who are sending in extra resources to our hospitals, and again (Defence Secretary) Ben Wallace said if we needed any further help in relation to that, he would be willing to do that.

“I think that is really good for us in Northern Ireland to know that there is that extra resource there, if we need it.”

The chairman of Stormont’s health committee said many retired health workers want to return to help the health service but are finding the system too bureaucratic.

Another 23 deaths were confirmed in the Republic on Sunday:

Covid-19 latest - 23 further deaths and 1,378 new cases in the Republic of Ireland.

14 deaths and 433 new cases were confirmed earlier today in Northern Ireland. pic.twitter.com/EJ9O6NGDtc

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 24, 2021