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Covid-related deaths up 17 as chief scientific adviser warns one in 40 people in parts of NI may have virus

There were 17 further Covid-related deaths reported by the Department of Health today (Thursday).

Today’s stats – according to the official dashboard – takes in the last 24 hours with 14 deaths inside that period and a further three recorded outside that timeframe.

The overall total number of deaths recorded by the Department now stands at 1,414.

There were a further 1,410 cases reported in the last 24 hours, with 245 in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon and a further 177 in Newry, Mourne and Down. There were 132 cases in Mid Ulster.

A total of 4,310 individuals were tested.

There are 599 – up seven – people now in hospital as a result of the virus, 44 – no change – of whom are in intensive care units.

There are currently 18 ICU beds available in Northern Ireland.

Ninety three – up six – patients are in Craigavon (main image). To date, 810 patients have been discharged from the Co. Armagh hospital.

There are 23 – no change – Covid patients in Daisy Hill, with 13 – up three – in Lurgan Hospital.

The latest figures come as chief scientific adviser, Professor Ian Young, warns that as many as one person in every 40 may have coronavirus in some parts of Northern Ireland.

He said the Mid Ulster Council area had the largest number of cases within the last week, followed by the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council area.

“It’s very likely that in parts of Northern Ireland there are as many as one person in 40 who currently has Covid … in those local government districts which currently have the highest incidence of the virus,” he told the BBC.

“Mid Ulster is the part which at the moment has the largest number of cases within the last week but there are some other local government districts which are not far behind that.”

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