Two more COVID-19 deaths in Derry and Strabane as case rate rises

Ninety local people have now sadly died with the illness since the pandemic began. The deaths of two people who were both aged over 80 were reported by the Department of Health this afternoon.

One male patient died in hospital today while a female patient died in a residential care setting on Monday.

Rise in cases

The seven-day COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 in Derry and Strabane also rose significantly on Wednesday.

Between December 16 and November 22, there were 344 positive coronavirus cases in Derry and Strabane giving a seven day rate of 228.3, which was up from 199.8 on Tuesday.

The rate in the district is now above the average for the north which is 218.2. It is now as high in Derry and Strabane as it has been since the middle of November.

The highest case rate is in Fermanagh and Omagh (303) while the lowest is in Ards and North Down (104.4).

The daily change in the cumulative number of patients with a positive test in Derry and Strabane between December 21 and December 22 was 84.

In total 7871 people have now tested positive for the illness in Derry and Strabane.

Hospitalisations

Hospitalisation continue with four people admitted to Altnagelvin with the illness yesterday including a young man aged between 20 and 39, who was discharged on the same day.

Two women, one aged 50-59 and one aged 60-69, and a man aged 70-79, were also admitted to the Derry hospital.

At Altnagelvin four of ten (40%) ICU beds at Altnagelvin were being used to treat COVID-19 patients; five (50%) were occupied by patients with other conditions; and one (10%) was free.

Four ICU patients were being ventilated - two were COVID-19 patients and two had other conditions.

In terms of general occupancy 12.92 per cent of beds at Altnagelvin were 'COVID-19 occupied', 82.77 per cent were 'other occupied' and the hospital had 2.46 per cent capacity left: 1.85 per cent were 'awaiting admission' according to the latest data.