Nine deaths and nearly 2,000 new cases recorded in the north

Nine other people have died from Covid-19 infection, according to the latest coronavirus data available for the north.

After Wednesday’s 11 deaths, the highest daily death toll in Northern Ireland since February, yesterday’s nine new deaths brought the confirmed Covid death toll to 2,278.

The latest deaths come as the north recorded one of the highest daily infection numbers of the year, with 1,963 on Thursday.

This means there have been 181,748 confirmed cases in Northern Ireland since the start of the pandemic.

Yesterday there were 379 Covid inpatients in northern hospitals, including 46 in intensive care units.

In the Republic, there were 244 hospital patients in total on Thursday, including 52 in intensive care.

The south has recorded 1,818 other infections, while the confirmed death toll remains at 5,074.

The number of vaccines in the south has increased to nearly 6.5 million doses in total, with nearly 3 million people now having received the two required doses.

In the north, where the Big Jab Weekend program takes place this Saturday and Sunday, 2,389,725 doses have now been administered, 1,132,946 people having undergone both jabs.

Big Jab Weekend will see mass vaccination centers, including Belfast’s SSE Arena and Derry’s Foyle Arena, reopen to people aged 18 and over who have not yet received their first jab. As people aged 16 and 17 can also attend walk-in vaccination centers, the weekend initiative is touted as one of the best opportunities to get the first dose before the vaccination schedule shifts. to community pharmacies and small pop-up clinics.

Dr Jillian Johnston, consultant to the Public Health Agency, said: “We are making a great effort to ensure that everyone who has not yet had the vaccine gets it this weekend. I know some people can have lingering worries or think they don’t I don’t need them, but I urge anyone who hasn’t had the free jab yet to make a positive choice and get it.

“The vaccines have been rigorously tested and approved for use. All vaccines carry a small risk, but the benefits far outweigh that. These vaccines are the key to unlocking the pandemic and helping to keep our community safe. Please don’t listen to social media ‘experts’ – approved Covid-19 vaccines offer the best protection against Covid-19. ”