CORONAVIRUS LATEST: Northern Ireland death toll reaches 36

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By Q Radio news

Northern Ireland's death toll from the Coronavirus pandemic has now reached 36.

The Public Health Agency says there are also 85 new positive cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 774.

Meanwhile preparations are under way to ramp up coronavirus testing in Northern Ireland, the Stormont health minister said said.

Robin Swann blamed the availability of products and the supply chain on the current pace of testing.

He said facilities are being prepared in a car park at the SSE Arena and at MOT centres so they are ready for whenever testing can be ramped up.

Mr Swann made the remarks as he briefed Stormont's health committee on Thursday.

He said authorities have been trying to get testing improved "as hard and as fast as we can".

"We haven't pushed it as hard or as fast as I would like it to have been, but every day we see changes and developments in our testing capability," he said.

"That's why we are looking at MOT test centres and we're looking at that development down in the Odyssey so when that ability comes and we are able to ramp up we can complete that."

Mr Swann said the first line of testing is for those admitted to hospital with symptoms, a second line is for people in care homes, and a third is for healthcare workers.

He said 387 tests were carried out on healthcare workers on Monday.

 

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