There have been no further Covid-related deaths reported by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland today (Friday).
That’s according to the official dashboard, where the overall total number of deaths recorded by the Department still stands at 2,152.
The Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area accounts for 285 deaths overall. Newry, Mourne and Down District accounts for 166 deaths while Mid-Ulster has registered 206 deaths.
There were a further 75 – down nine – positive cases reported in the last 24 hours with six in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon,. There were five in Newry, Mourne and Down and Mid-Ulster District recorded four.
A total of 2,000 individuals were tested.
There are 28 – one more than yesterday – people in hospitals across Northern Ireland as a result of the virus, two of whom are in intensive care units.
There are just two Covid patients in the Southern Trust area – none in Craigavon, with one in Daisy Hill and the other at St Luke’s in Armagh.
There are currently 13 ICU beds available in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, a huge thanks goes to the Southern Trust’s District Nursing Team who in addition to their usual workload, have been working hard to give housebound patients their Covid-19 vaccinations.
Since the housebound vaccination programme began on January 30 – the team have administered over 3,000 vaccinations.
There are 59 District Nursing Sisters working across seven Integrated Care Teams managing the rollout of this programme. Each sister has a team of community nurses who are delivering the vaccination to patients in their own homes.
Commending the team, Brian Beattie Interim Director of Older People and Primary Care for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said: “The roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to housebound patients shows in practice, the important role that our District Nursing service has in addressing public health issues and delivering care to people in their own homes.
“Our District Nursing teams have worked weekend and evening shifts, right across the entire geography of the Southern Trust, bringing the vaccination to those who cannot travel to a centre, their GP or community pharmacy.
“Tribute must also be paid to the dedication of our Administrative colleagues, for the efficient booking of patients within the recommended timeframes and co-ordinating the daily data returns.
“The achievement by this team in such a short timeframe, is impressive and their willingness to go the extra mile for these vulnerable patients, is a testament to the amazing District Nursing workforce we have in the Southern Trust.”
