A record 7,000+ covid cases recorded in NI

Northern Ireland's highest ever number of coronavirus cases in one day has been recorded on the last day of 2021.

7,215 new cases have been reported between 2pm on December 30th and 2pm on December 31st.

In the past seven days, 35,107 people have tested positive, and of those, 186 have been admitted to hospital.

In ICU, 34 patients are infected with the virus.

One more covid-related death is also recorded by the Department of Health, meaning the number of people who have died after testing positive since the start of the pandemic rises to 2,980.

The enormous total cases come on a day when the isolation period has been cut from ten days to seven days, provided the person who was quarantining does not test positive on day six or day seven of their isolation.

It is hopes that the reduced time spend isolating will help address chronic staff shortages in some sectors, including healthcare.

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