NI Covid-19 infections spike in last 24 hours + Covid-19 death-toll more than 1,500 reports NISRA

Good evening
The number of individuals testing positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland is continuing to rise. The 538 new infections detected in the last 24 hours takes the total number of individuals to test positive for Covid-19 in the last seven days to 3,091 and the total number of infection since the beginning of the pandemic to 57,257.

Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill have said that they would take the Covid-19 vaccine in public. Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of the Stormont Executive, Mrs Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill confirmed they would be willing to get the jab in public.“I have no difficulty doing that, I will be taking the vaccination,” Mrs Foster said.
Stormont’s health minister has said he would have preferred stricter coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland in the run-up to Christmas. Commenting on the ending of the circuit-break lockdown and the reopening of shops and much of the hospitality sector, Robin Swann said he had to accept that he operated in a five-party executive.
And few university students are testing positive for Covid - despite ‘bearing the brunt of blame and criticism’. The mass testing of university students was launched on campuses last week, screening hundreds of thousands of students for the virus before they headed home for the Christmas break.
Keep safe

Michael Cousins
Deputy digital editor
Digital subscriptions to the News Letter are available from only £1 a month for the first 3 months. That will give you unlimited access to our content along with our subscriber only interactive puzzles. 70% fewer ads and with the digital+ option you can also access the newspaper app edition. You can see all the options here.