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Nine more people have died after contracting coronavirus in Northern Ireland, the Health Department said.
An additional 315 cases of the virus have also been confirmed in the last 24 hours.
It brings the number of Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland to 983, while the number of cases now totals 51,824.
One of the last nine deaths reported occurred outside the 24-hour period, according to the Northern Ireland Department of Health.
There are currently 410 Covid-19 patients hospitalized in Northern Ireland, with 33 in intensive care units. There are currently 16 ICU beds available in the health service.
The new figures came after the medical director insisted that another period of tightening coronavirus restrictions in the new year is not inevitable.
Dr. Michael McBride said that while a “recovery” in infection rates is expected in January following the relaxation of the rules over Christmas, the extent of the increase in cases depends on public behavior.
He said the Northern Ireland Executive will issue guidance next week on how households can minimize infection risks when more mixing is allowed between December 23-27.
Northern Ireland has just entered another two-week blackout in a bid to cut transmission rates before Christmas.
When asked if another crackdown in January is inevitable, Dr. McBride said: “It’s up to all of us. There will be a revenge for the relaxations during Christmas. But I think it’s the right thing to do. It is important for our mental health and well-being, but we will see further transmission.
“When we come together, the virus is there and the virus will spread. So we really have to be careful, what we have to do is reduce the virus as low as possible before we get into the Christmas period and be very careful during Christmas. “
Dr. McBride acknowledged the difficulties faced by the retail and hospitality sectors as they lose two weeks of trading during the busiest time of year.
“I am sorry that we are in this situation,” he said.
“I know there will be many opinions about the need or not for this restriction.
“But it’s making a difference, it’s having an impact. I just want to thank everyone, now that the Executive has made its decision, for all their efforts ”.
The medical director said there is evidence that the recent period of tighter restrictions is beginning to reduce the number of hospital admissions.
“Let’s make these two weeks work,” he added.
“This is a really important opportunity for us to lower the virus levels as low as possible before Christmas.
“It is working, what we are doing is working, their commitment, we are seeing a reduction in the number of cases, we are seeing the beginning of a drop in the number of patients in the hospital.
“That is the best way to protect each other, our families and protect our health service and, most importantly, save lives. So let’s do this. “
In launching a vaccine, he sought to minimize expectations that it will eliminate the need for restrictions in the short term.
“We have some difficult months ahead of us,” he said.
“The vaccine won’t get us through this winter, but I’m sure it will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting by late spring, and I hope that talking about more extensive and additional restrictions will increasingly become a thing of the past. – PA
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