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Northern Ireland has recorded its second highest daily total of coronavirus cases
The Department of Health has announced another 726 cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.
It is the second highest number of daily cases in Northern Ireland, after Friday’s high of 934.
There has also been one more death in the last 24 hours, and the total number of hospitalized patients is 65.
The total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Northern Ireland is now 583.
The figures show that there are nine intensive care beds occupied by Covid-19 patients.
Across Northern Ireland, the infection rate in Derry City and Strabane has risen to 478.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Nightingale Hospital
The rate in the Newry, Morne and Down council area is up to 268.6, while Belfast has also risen to 192, and the area with the next highest prevalence is Mid Ulster at 171.5.
On Friday, Health Minister Robin Swann told BBC News NI that he was “stunned” by the numbers for that day.
“It’s something that we thought we would possibly have to do over the winter. Now it looks like October will be our Covid winter,” he said.
He said the surge in cases means Belfast’s Nightingale Hospital may need to reactivate in a few weeks.
