The official death toll from coronavirus on the island of Ireland has passed 3,000 after a further 12 deaths were reported by the Northern Ireland Department of Health.
The number of Covid-related deaths in the North now stands at 974, while there were also another 391 confirmed cases of the disease recorded in the last 24-hour reporting period.
In the Republic, 2,036 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded, bringing the total fatalities on the island to 3,010.
Official figures show hospitals in Northern Ireland recorded their highest number of Covid-19-related deaths in the week to November 20th.
There were 100 deaths in total in the region.
Almost 60 per cent of fatalities happened in hospitals but a third were in care homes.
Statistics agency Nisra said: “The 69 Covid-19 deaths occurring in hospital this week represents the largest weekly number in this setting since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.”
'Circuit-break'
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland entered a two-week circuit-breaker lockdown on Friday designed to arrest the spread of coronavirus.
Pubs, restaurants, non-essential retail and close-contact services are closed for two weeks to help curb the spread of the virus.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the decision was “difficult but right”, while the hospitality sector is seeking assurances from Stormont that it can reopen on December 11th. – Additional reporting: PA
