Over 60 children and teens COVID positive over past week in Derry & Strabane

A further 100 people aged between 20 and 39, and 100 more aged 40-56 have also tested positive for the virus. By contrast there were just eight cases among people aged 80 and over and 25 positive COVID test results among those in the age group from 60 to 79.

COVID rates continue to be higher in the Waterside area, with BT47 registering 161 positive tests, giving an R (reproductive rate) of 260.2 per 100,000 people.

In the BT48 cityside area, the rate is lower at 187.3 per 100,000 people after a week in which 114 people here tested positive.

Both R rates however are still above the NI of 163.9 per 100,000.

Over the seven day period to Sunday, there were 29 COVID-related admissions at Altnagelvin and South West Acute hospitals, while 46 patients diagnosed with COVID were discharged. The number of admissions is up slightly however on the previous week.

Overall in the north, tragically 48 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died in the past seven days, nine of them yesterday.

Meanwhile staff and pupils from two schools in Limavady on Monday began participating in an NHS Covid-19 testing scheme.

St Mary’s Limavady and Limavady High School have been selected as part of a UK-wide programme announced in October.

Education Minister Peter Weir said: “I welcome this initiative where pupils and staff, without symptoms, will be tested on a voluntary basis and I want to thank both schools for taking part. Along with the other measures schools and colleges are taking, it is hoped that these tests will help reduce the risk of people without symptoms transmitting the virus. Positive cases of the virus could be identified which may otherwise have been missed.

“Keeping our schools safe during the pandemic remains my top priority,” he added.