NORTHERN IRELAND HAS confirmed that a further 505 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19.

In its latest update this afternoon, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health reported that 13 more people have died with the virus.

In total, there have been 61,942 Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland and 1,196 deaths since the first outbreak of the virus earlier this year. 

Department of Health / Twitter Department of Health / Twitter / Twitter

Hospitals in Northern Ireland are currently operating at 96% occupancy, while 421 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised with 30 in ICU.

There are 82 active Covid-19 outbreaks in care homes in the North.

Yesterday, there were  640 new cases and 17 deaths reported in Northern Ireland.

From 26 December to 2 January, essential retail, gatherings, and household visits to gardens in Northern Ireland will be subject to a curfew.

England, Scotland and Wales are introducing tighter last-minute restrictions ahead of Christmas in a bid to stop the spread of a new coronavirus variant.

However, the new strain has not yet been identified in Northern Ireland.