20 new deaths in Northern Ireland from Coronavirus

By Q Radio News Team and PA reporter

20 people who tested positive for Coronavirus have died in the last 24 hours in Northern Ireland.

That is according to the daily update from the Public Health Agency, bringing its total for the region to 329.

BREAKING: Latest Coronavirus figures:
Currently 790 Covid-19 suspected/confirmed inpatients in Northern Ireland.
34 Covid-19 patients are in ICU beds with 36 spare ICU beds available in NI Hospitals.
Also 69 care homes with Coronavirus outbreaks in NI. pic.twitter.com/wwnKdseJvh

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) April 28, 2020

The latest figures released by the Department of Health show there are 34  patients being treated in intensive care units for confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, around 790 patients are currently being treated for the virus, with 3,203 people having already been discharged from hospital.

Figures have also been released in the Republic of Ireland for the number of patients who have died from Covid-19.

Breaking: There have been a further 59 Covid-19 deaths in the Republic of Ireland bringing the RoI total to 1159

Earlier, another 20 deaths were confirmed in Northern Ireland, the highest daily increase. The official death toll in NI is 329. pic.twitter.com/clocAW2Tkh

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) April 28, 2020

At the daily press briefing, Health Minister, Robin Swann urged people not to relax their guard over social distancing.

"I want to make a direct appeal to anyone who's having doubts about the seriousness of the threat from Covid-19," he said.

"I also want to address anyone who has attempted to relax their guard on social distancing.

"Let them think about the 20 families grieving today. Let them think about those who have lost their lives.

Mr Swann said some "tentative improvements" are starting to be seen, including a drop in the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care to 34.

He warned, though, that Northern Ireland "remains on a knife edge".

"Don't let anyone say this has all been overblown because, believe me, it hasn't," he said, adding the scale of deaths is reaching what was seen in the worst days of the Troubles.

Mr Swann also warned that when the time comes to ease social distancing, it will "not be like flicking a switch on going back to the old ways".

"Social distancing will be with us for many months," he said.

Robin Swann warned against speculation around the easing of lockdown measures.

Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said testing is being "ramped up very significantly".

"We have worked tirelessly to increase our testing capacity and we're now in a situation where we can use that capacity to begin the very important community surveillance that we will now require in the next phase of our response," he said.

He said testing is being rolled out to GP practices and, from Monday, started testing all admissions to hospitals.

Dr McBride provided an update on testing levels.

Mr Swann also revealed that the Northern Ireland Executive has started discussing face coverings this week but expressed concern that they could lead to a "false sense of security".

Dr McBride warned that wearing a face covering "must not be seen as a substitute" to advice including washing hands thoroughly.

BREAKING: Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer: "If we drop our guard now, the number of those in intensive care could double in two weeks time. That is how finely balanced this is." pic.twitter.com/7buAVERBkY

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) April 28, 2020