Coronavirus: One death linked to virus in NI last week

There was one coronavirus-linked death registered in Northern Ireland last week, official figures show.

That is six fewer than the previous week, which showed a rise in the weekly number of deaths in NI for the first time since mid-June.

It comes as some local businesses in County Down have shut due to Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the BBC has learned that anyone failing to wear a face covering in shops from Monday could be fined up to £60.

The Department of Health said the executive expected that people who are able to wear a face covering will do so in order to help protect themselves and others.

Breaches of the requirement could attract a fixed penalty notice of £60, but will be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

Earlier, the NI Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) released its weekly statistics and said the virus had featured on 855 people's death certificates in NI by 31 July.

The Department of Health's daily figure, which is based on positive tests, for the same date was 556 - almost 300 fewer.

Nisra said there have been 449 deaths in hospital (52.5%).

Eighty of those people were normally resident in care homes - a figure unchanged since last week.

Taking that figure and the 349 who died in care homes, it means care home residents account for half of all Covid-19-related deaths in Northern Ireland.

Nisra said no deaths related to Covid-19 occurred in care homes in the week up to last Friday.

Eight people have died in hospices (0.9%) and 49 at residential addresses or other locations (5.7%), both figures unchanged.

People aged 75 and over account for 80% of all Covid-19-related deaths.

In the week ending 31 July, the percentage of all Covid-19 related male deaths was 49.9% and female deaths 50.1%.

The provisional number of all deaths between Friday 24 and Friday 31 July was 273 - 34 fewer than in the previous week (307) and nine fewer than the five-year average (282).

That five-year death rate is used to compare the number of weekly deaths that would normally be recorded at this time of year.

Nisra also recorded the number of "excess deaths" registered in the past 18 weeks as 1,031.

Its measure captures all deaths linked to coronavirus - those involving confirmed infections which feature in the health department's daily figures, as well as the suspected cases in which coronavirus is mentioned on the death certificate.

On Friday, the Department of Health said 15 new cases of coronavirus had been diagnosed in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours and no further deaths.

The total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in NI now stands at 6,064.

As of Friday there are seven occupied beds in hospital, which includes two patients in intensive care one of whom is ventilated.

In the Republic of Ireland, the Department of Health said on Thursday it had been notified of five additional Covid-linked deaths and 69 new cases.

However, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said four of the deaths were late notifications, relating to April and June.

Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has welcomed the opening of a Covid-19 testing unit at St Mary's Primary School in Newcastle, County Down.

Earlier this week, several businesses in the seaside resort reported outbreaks of Covid-19 among staff.

The member for South Down said he was "appealing to local residents and those that are visiting the town to adhere to the social distancing guidelines, practise good hand hygiene and wear a mask where appropriate in line with the public health advice".

On Friday, there were further business closures in the area, including a hotel in Kilkeel and a bakery in Downpatrick, after staff and customers tested positive for coronavirus.

Andersonstown Social Club PD in west Belfast also said it was closing after one of its "regulars" tested positive for coronavirus.

"The club will get a professional deep clean and our staff will now get tested and we hope to reopen very soon," it added.