Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Signs of hope as no virus deaths recorded in Ulster
» Department of Health figures record no new deaths yesterday » 6 new patients test positive, bringing total infected to 4,796
THE Department of Health yesterday recorded no new Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland in its daily update.
Figures revealed that in the previous 24 hours, six individuals had tested positive for coronavirus.
As of 1am on June 7, there had been 4,796 confirmed cases here.
The death toll in Northern Ireland now stands at 537.
The figures report that care homes for the elderly and infirm have 61 clients with Covid-19 and a further 32 suspected of having the virus.
To date, 358 people aged 80 and over have passed away as a result of contacting coronavirus, according to the Department of Health statistics.
A further 154 people aged 60 to 79 with the illness have also died.
And 23 patients aged 40 to 59 have succumbed to the infection since March 20.
The highest number of people, 2,662, those in the 60 to 79 age group, have tested positive with a further 2,013 who are aged 80 and over.
A total of 1,301 aged 40 to 59 and 502 are aged 20 to 39 with a further 488 people aged 0 to 19 have also presented positive tests.
Every local government district across Northern Ireland has suffered at least six Covid-19 deaths and Belfast has lost 159 people to the disease. More men than women in Northern Ireland have died from Covid-19 with 279 males and 257 females, despite the fact many more woman have contracted the infection. The Department of Health figures released on Sunday, 2,964 women have tested positive compared to 1,823 men.
It also reported that across Northern Ireland there are 3,561 hospital beds – 2,725 which are occupied, an occupancy rate of almost 77%.
A total of 102 regular ICU beds are available with seven occupied and 30 available to take a patient, and there are a further 365 dedicated Covid-19 beds in the country.
To date, 6,987 people who have been treated in hospital for coronavirus have been discharged to continue their recovery at home. Last Friday the Northern Ireland Statistics a n d Research Agency revealed the total of coronavirus-related related deaths was 757.
The disparity between NISRA’S figures and those of the DOH are because NISRA bases their details on death registration information collected by the General Register Office.
This counts all deaths where
Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate by the doctor who certified the death, whether or not the virus was the primary underlying cause of death.
In the Republic, one further Covid-19 death was announced last night by the Department of Health.
This brings the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland to 1,679.
An additional 25 people have also been confirmed to have the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 25,201.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of shops across the Republic will enjoy a sales bonanza today – as the hair industry outlines its plans to brush off a nightmare 10-weeks for retail.
An army of staff in furniture, DIY, toy and homeware outlets with direct street access will return to work for the first time since March.
As the South struggles with unruly hair, salons vowed they will be ready and able to deal with a tsunami of customers from June 29 – but with Ppe-wearing staff and magazines banned.
Irish Hairdressers’ Federation president Danielle Kennedy said: “There are 25,000 people employed in our sector and we want to ensure they can come back to work safely.”