Listen: More than 1,700 new cases of covid-19 and one death confirmed in NI

By Q Radio News and PA

There has been one Covid-19 related death in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours.

The department of health has also reported a further 1,7 76 new cases of the virus detected in the same period.

As of this morning, there were seven patients being treated in intensive care with coronavirus.

There has been one Covid-19 related death in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hourshttps://t.co/ssqS11yx0Z

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 19, 2021

It is the first time since January that the Covid-19 case numbers have topped 1,700.

Case numbers have been rapidly increasing in recent weeks with the Delta variant of the virus now dominant in the region.

On Sunday 537 new cases were reported, 1,402 cases were reported on Saturday and 1,380 on Friday.

One further death of a patient who had previously tested positive for the virus was also notified on Monday, bringing the toll to 2,163.

Hospital patient numbers are also increasing.

On Monday morning there were 109 Covid-19 positive patients in hospital, with seven in intensive care.

The latest rise comes as all Coronavirus restrictions are lifted in England.

Today, in England, mask wearing is no longer mandatory, nightclubs can open again and there are no formal rules on social distancing anymore.

Excited revellers described the midnight reopening of nightclubs as “like New Year” as they queued up for their first night out dancing since the start of the pandemic.

Some said they had “missed the buzz” of being out while others admitted they were already bored of queueing and needed the toilet.

Outside Egg nightclub in north London clubbers queued for more than an hour and cheered as the clock struck midnight, following a countdown from 10.

Fundraiser Chloe Waite, 37, who was first in the queue, said the occasion was “something we’re going to remember for a long time.”

“It’s going to be a special night,” she told the PA news agency.

“For me this is a New Year’s-type event and something we’re going to remember for a long, long time and we might not get the opportunity for a while.”

Gabriel Wildsmith, 26, a video producer from London, who joined Ms Waite at the front of the line said he had missed “meeting random people” and making friends.

“I’m so excited I’ve been waiting for this for so long … basically since we locked down,” he said.

“I love going to clubs and I love meeting random people. You make great friends and you couldn’t do that until tonight.”

He added: “I’ve been here for an hour, I’m really keen.”

The excitement was just as palpable in Leeds, where patrons queued to enter Bar Fibre.

“It feels so special,” said bar owner Terry George. “People are treating it like a very special occasion, like a New Year’s Eve type affair. Freedom Eve is what we’re calling it."

The labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has described the move as reckless. 

While Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill described the scenes across the water today were concerning.