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Northern Ireland has recorded more than 700 new Covid-19 infections in a 24-hour period.
The Health Department confirmed a total of 726 new cases on Saturday, the second highest number in a day after a record 934 infections were reported on Friday.
One more death was reported, bringing the death toll recorded by the department to 583.
A total of 65 Covid-19 patients are being treated at 20 hospitals on Saturday, with nine in intensive care.
The latest figures show that the infection rate in the Derry City and Strabane Council area, the current focus of infection in Northern Ireland, has risen to 478.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
That’s an increase of 422.8 per 100,000 on Friday.
The rate in the Newry, Morne and Down council area has risen to 268.6, while Belfast has also risen to 192.
The area with the next highest prevalence is Mid Ulster at 171.5.
The Stormont executive announced new restrictions for the Derry City area and Strabane Council on Thursday in an effort to stem the increase in the number of infections.
They include hospitality businesses that are limited to takeout, home delivery and cookouts, and a call to avoid unnecessary travel.
The huge increase in cases in the region in recent days prompted Stormont’s chief scientific adviser to warn people in the north on Friday that they should prepare for the potential of multiple winter lockdowns.
Professor Ian Young said that it is not yet certain whether intensive lockdown periods will be required to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but it would be “sensible” for the public to plan on that basis.
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