The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has confirmed that a further nine people have died in hospitals as a result of Covid-19.
This brings the total number of hospital deaths to 347 since the start of the outbreak. The total is expected to be up to 33% higher as the figures do not include deaths which have occurred in care homes or hospices.
Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swann has today stated that there will be no change to Covid-19 restrictions in the near future, despite calls from DAERA Minister Edwin Poots to have churches, garden centres and forest parks reopened.
Northern Ireland suffered its highest death toll increase on Tuesday, when 20 deaths were confirmed in one day.
There have also been 73 more cases of coronavirus diagnosed, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the region to 3,536.
A total of 848 patients have been hospitalised with the virus, with 33 patients in ICU.