Covid-19: Eleven more coronavirus-related deaths in NI

person getting testGetty/Tang Ming Tung

Eleven more people have died in NI after contracting Covid-19.

That brings the Department of Health's daily toll, based on a positive test result being recorded, to 708.

Seven of the deaths happened in the last 24 hours, and another four were outside that time.

First Minister Arlene Foster has said the current restrictions in NI will end "as planned" on 13 November, while the PM announced a second lockdown for England.

The NI-only restrictions began on Friday 17 October.

In a tweet on Saturday evening, Arlene Foster said she had had a "useful call" with the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove.

"We must adapt to coexist with the virus. That means increasing hospital & testing capacity," she said.

Responding to Boris Johnson's announcement on Saturday evening, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill wrote on social media to remind people the restrictions would not apply in Northern Ireland.

Ms O'Neill said that restrictions in Northern Ireland "remain in place and will be reviewed by 13 November".

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Schools in Northern Ireland will reopen on Monday.

In his address on Saturday night, the prime minister said the government's furlough scheme, due to end at midnight, would be extended by one month.

The extension will be applied across the United Kingdom.

Through the scheme, staff kept on by their employer while unable to work are paid 80% of their wages - up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.

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In Northern Ireland on Saturday, the Department of Health reported 649 new cases of coronavirus bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Northern Ireland to 38,431.

There are 346 people in hospital with Covid-19, eight fewer than Friday.

There are 48 patients in ICU, up five on Friday. Some 41 of them require ventilation support, an increase of three compared to Friday.

Hospitals in Northern Ireland are operating at about 96% occupancy, with 11 ICU beds available and 128 general beds available.

In the Republic of Ireland, five further deaths related to Covid-19 were announced on Saturday.

There have now been 1,913 Covid-19 related deaths in the country to date.

Some 416 new confirmed cases were announced, bringing that total to 61,456.

As of 14:00 local time, 320 Covid patients are in hospital in the Irish Republic, 41 of which are in ICU.

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