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There have been 763 new Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland in the latest 24-hour reporting period, the Health Department announced, bringing the total to 23,878.
This includes the 6,394 new positive cases reported in the last seven days.
Four deaths were reported, bringing the official figure to 606.
There are 201 Covid-19 patients being treated at the hospital, with 24 in intensive care.
NI constraints ‘too little, too late’ – BMA
The British Medical Association (BMA) in Northern Ireland has described the recent restrictions announced by the Stormont Executive as “too little, too late”.
Dr Tom Black, GP in Derry and Chairman of BMANI, said the association is “unanimous” in its view that more severe restrictions are required to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.
The 14-day incidence rate for the Derry and Strabane Council area currently stands at just under 1,600 per 100,000.
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He said “it’s not good enough” for retail to stay open, for 25 people to be able to attend a wedding, or for gyms to stay open.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Dr. Black said that restrictions similar to Level 4 measures imposed in three border counties in the Republic are what is required in all six counties.
He said that Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry is under severe pressure with Covid-19 admissions and the impact on ICU beds.
He said the virus is “embedded in the community” and a “great concern” is that the hospital system in Northern Ireland has to deal with a doubling of hospitalized patients every three to four days.
“That means it is quadrupled every week, and the system will not cope with that kind of pressure.”
Dr Black believes that the “extraordinary outbreaks” of the virus in the Derry and Strabane area are the result of complacency and increased socialization.
“Everything continued as if we had defeated this virus,” he said.
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