There have been four further Covid-related deaths reported in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours – one of which occurred outside the reporting period.
Of those deaths, two occurred in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon borough.
The highest number of cases (701) in the last seven days have come from the 10-14 age range.
According to the official dashboard, there were a further 1,060 – up 85 – positive cases reported in the last 24 hours, with 146 in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon – the second highest in NI. There were 73 positive cases in Newry, Mourne and Down while Mid-Ulster District recorded 90. Belfast had the highest with 172.
A total of 5,011 individuals were tested in that time.
There are 397 – up 13 – people in hospitals across Northern Ireland as a result of the virus, 34 – up two – of whom are in intensive care unit.
There are 100 – up four – Covid patients in the Southern Trust area, 64 of whom are in Craigavon Area Hospital. There are 11 patients in Daisy Hill and 18 in South Tyrone Hospital.
There are currently 14 ICU beds available in Northern Ireland.
The total number of deaths now stands at 2,517.
Hospital occupancy currently stands at 103% –up 1% – of capacity.
The Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area accounts for 343 deaths overall; Newry, Mourne and Down District accounts for 192 while Mid-Ulster has registered 238 deaths.
Meanwhile, the Health and Agriculture Ministers have urged any unvaccinated visitors to the Balmoral Show to use the opportunity to get jabbed.
The mobile vaccination clinic, which is located at stand B30, near the show ring, is offering walk-in first dose jabs from today until 5pm on Saturday 25 September. Those vaccinated with a first dose at the Show will be able to receive their second dose via a community pharmacy.
Health Minister Robin Swann said: “The Balmoral Show is an important date in the calendar for many farming families and the wider rural community in Northern Ireland so it’s great to have it back again.
“I would urge anyone who is planning to visit the Show over the next few days to use the opportunity to visit the clinic and get vaccinated if they haven’t already done so. Vaccination will help protect you and the people who are close to you.”
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots said: “My Department continues to play an important role in the vaccination roll out by transitioning the services normally delivered by the Farm Families Health Checks Programme to enable its staff to assist Health Trust personnel to deliver vaccinations in low uptake rural areas. Anyone yet to be vaccinated should take the opportunity provided in their locality.”
Vaccinations are continuing to be offered to the farming community through the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs and the Public Health Agency’s collaborative Farm Families Health Checks Programme.
The Health Checks Programme consists of a mobile unit that visits local livestock markets and community events across Northern Ireland. It offers on-the-spot physical and mental health checks covering such areas as blood pressure monitoring, BMI, cholesterol check and diabetic screening – and now Covid-19 vaccination as well.
