14 deaths and 1,566 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland

Over 14 Covid-19 related deaths have been confirmed in Northern Ireland.

The NI Health Department also reported 1,566 additional positive cases of the virus during the past 24 hours.

In total, there have been 1,305 deaths in the North related to the virus, along with 68,762 confirmed cases.

A six-week shutdown began in the north on Saturday to halt the spread of the virus, with the closure of shops and non-essential services such as hair salons and barbers.

Pubs and restaurants are required to perform only delivery services, while essential retailers are required to close at 8pm for the next week. Companies must also limit the number of people in their facilities at one time.

Meanwhile, indoor and outdoor gatherings are prohibited between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The Stormont Executive will review the new restrictions after four weeks.

The measures were decided after the number of cases in the north rose dramatically despite two “circuit breaker” blockages in November and December.

Health chiefs cited poor compliance with regulations and guidance as a reason for the rise in infections, and hospital admissions and death rates remain relatively high.

Hospitals across the north were operating at 105% of capacity earlier this month, when images of ambulances queuing outside health centers sounded the alarm.

With reporting by Stephen McDermott and the Press Association