There have been 14 further Covid-related deaths reported by the Department of Health today (Tuesday).
Eleven of these occurred in the last 24 hours, with three outside that timeframe – according to the official dashboard – which has the overall total now at 1,073.
There has been one further death in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon borough, where the total number of lives lost is now 112. There has been no additional deaths in the Newry, Mourne and Down district, where the total remains 70.
There were a further 351 cases reported in that timeframe, with 43 in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon and a further 28 in Newry, Mourne and Down.
A total of 2,813 individuals were tested.
There are 421 – up five – people now in hospital as a result of the virus, 28 – down one – of whom are in intensive care units.
There are currently 21 – up three – ICU beds available in Northern Ireland.
Thirty-five patients are in Craigavon – no change. To date, 610 patients have been discharged from the Co. Armagh hospital.
There are nine –no change – Covid patients in Daisy Hill, with 11 – down one – in Lurgan Hospital.
Meanwhile, Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has tabled a question to the First and Deputy First Minister on whether they have considered plans to make a one-off gesture payment of £500, like the Scottish Government, to front line workers in the Health and Social Care Sector who have worked throughout the pandemic.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, last week, announced a one-off payment for lifesavers and care-givers on the frontline throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
A pro rated payment of £500 will be made to all NHS and social care workers employed since March 17, 2020 – including staff who have had to shield, or who have since retired.
The investment of around £180 million will see over 300,000 staff gain some benefit from this bonus, including nurses, porters, doctors, primary care staff.
