By Q Radio News
Three further deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have been reported in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health said there had also been 1,610 new confirmed cases in the last 24-hour reporting period.
On Thursday morning, there were 341 Covid-positive patients in hospital, with 42 in intensive care.
NI #COVID19 data has been updated:
— Department of Health (@healthdpt) August 12, 2021
1,610 positive cases and sadly, three deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours.
2,349,717 vaccines administered in total.
Dashboard➡️https://t.co/YN16dmGzhv
Vaccines ➡️https://t.co/Yfa0hHVmRL pic.twitter.com/FNE94S0WVN
The latest figures come as the executive has been discussing some relaxation of Covid rules.
It has been decided that people who are close contacts of positive cases will no longer have to isolate for 10 days, as long as they test negative and have had both jabs of a vaccine.
The move, which comes into effect on Monday, brings Northern Ireland into line with rule changes already agreed for the rest of the UK.
At Thursday’s virtual Executive meeting, ministers also agreed to end class bubbling arrangements in schools.
Ministers decided to retain the use of face coverings in post-primary school classrooms for the first six weeks of the new term.
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