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Northern Ireland has recorded a further 3,576 coronavirus cases within the last 48 hours.<\/p>\nNorthern Ireland has recorded a further 3,576 coronavirus cases within the last 48 hours.<\/p>\n
Another 26 people have died with Covid-19, the region’s Department of Health said.<\/p>\n
Figures also show there are 483 patients in hospital with Covid-19, with 35 of those in intensive care units.<\/p>\n
In the last seven days, 10,850 people have tested positive with the virus, up from 4,281 for the previous seven days.<\/p>\n
The North\u2019s seven-day incidence rate is now at 576.6 per 100,000.<\/p>\n
It has more than doubled in the last two weeks.<\/p>\n
The latest figures also show that 99 per cent of hospital beds are occupied, with some 30 empty hospital beds left in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Six of Northern Ireland\u2019s hospitals are operating beyond capacity, including Antrim, Causeway, Mater, Royal Hospital, South West Acute Hospital and Ulster Hospital.<\/p>\n
It comes as the rollout of the Oxford\/AstraZeneca vaccine in Northern Ireland begins at GP practices on Monday.<\/p>\n
An initial batch of 50,000 doses has been allocated.<\/p>\n
Those aged over 80 will be initially prioritized.<\/p>\n
The North’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said as many people on the priority list as possible should be offered a first dose.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe evidence shows that the initial dose of vaccine offers as much as 70% protection against the effects of the virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cProviding that level of protection on a large scale will have the greatest impact on reducing mortality and hospitalizations, protecting the health and social care system. It is the right thing to do for the public health.\u201d<\/p>\n