Three cases of South African Covid-19 variant among 225 new infections in North

THE SOUTH African variant of Covid-19 has been detected in Northern Ireland, the region’s Department of Health has said.

It comes as five further Covid-19 related deaths were confirmed in the North.

The death toll now stands at 2,041.

Another 225 positive cases were reported, bring to 111,39 the number of infections since the outbreak.

The North’s hospitals are at 99 per cent occupancy with 340 Covid-19 patients receiving hospital care, 134 of whom are in intensive care.

Of today’s cases, three were confirmed as being the South African variant. Health officials have said that the risk of transmission is ‘low’.

Robin Swann, the Health Minister, said: “This development does not mean that this variant is going to become the most prevalent, or the dominant strain in Northern Ireland.”