Late dash to sun as Portugal

Ulster’s virus fatalities climb from one to 7 in three weeks

COVID-19 related deaths recorded by the Statistics and Research Agency have seen a significant rise.

Its latest bulletin showed seven people, whose deaths “involved” the virus, passed away in the week August 8 to 14.

The previous week there were four deaths while the week before NISRA recorded one fatality.

NISRA says the Covid-19 death toll here figure now stands at 866. The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health, for people who have tested positive for the virus, up until August 14 was 558 meaning NISRA has made public 308 additional deaths.

The Agency added: “Of this total, 456 (52.7%) took place in hospital, 351

HOLIDAY bookings for Portugal have surged since the country was lifted off the Covid-19 risk list.

One resort reported a 300% increase from the UK hours after the travel ban ended.

But as Portugal welcomed visitors back, there was a rush to leave Croatia, where rising infection rates put it on the banned list.

The Quinta do Lago golf resort in Algarve, Portugal, said its phones “had not stopped ringing” since the nation was given air bridge status. A number of easyjet flights from London airports to destinations across Portugal heading out today and tomorrow were sold out.

Average cost of tickets to Algarve gateway Faro soared from £35 to £190 while flights to Lisbon rose from £55 to £185 within hours of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ announcement.

Holiday giants Jet2 and Tui were hastily re-writing flight schedules to cope with demand and Jet2, which was already flying to the Portuguese island of Madeira, will resume flights to Faro from Monday. It has added more flights to meet huge demand.

Paul Charles, boss of travel consultancy The PC Agency which advises more than 30 firms, said: “It’s fantastic news about Portugal because it will have a late summer season and a strong autumn.”

Around three million Brits head to Portugal every year with the Algarve the most popular resort.

Ticket prices also shot up for Brits rushing to get home from Croatia to avoid a two-week quarantine. British Airways charged £276 for a flight