Eight more Covid19 deaths and over 140 new cases confirmed

By Q Radio News

Another 8 people have died in Northern Ireland after contracting Covid-19. 

It brings the number of deaths recorded by the Department of Health to 2,087. 

A further 147 positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours.

It comes as Covid-19 case rates fall below the symbolic level of 50 cases per 100,000 people in half of all local areas in the UK. 

It is a major turnaround from one month ago, when only six of the 380 local areas were reporting rates under 50 per 100,000.

New analysis shows that a handful of areas are even recording rates that are now in single figures.

The steep fall suggests the various lockdowns in place across the country are continuing to play a key role in reducing the number of new reported cases of coronavirus.

The data, which has been compiled by the PA news agency, shows that for the seven days to March 5 a total of 190 out of 380 local authority areas in the UK recorded Covid-19 case rates below 50 per 100,000 people.

In England, these ranged from 49.7 in Dartford in Kent to 5.7 in South Hams in Devon.

A majority of local areas in Wales are now below 50 cases per 100,000 people, with Ceredigion recording a rate of just 9.6.

More than half of areas in Scotland are also below 50, including the Shetland Islands (4.4) and the Orkney Islands (no recent cases).

In Northern Ireland, two of the 11 local authority areas are now below 50: Newry, Mourne & Down (40.8) and Fermanagh & Omagh (33.2).

The highest rate anywhere in the UK is currently 149.2, for South Derbyshire.