Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Department of Health reports nine further deaths and 566 new cases

The Department of Health has reported a further nine coronavirus related deaths.

On Friday afternoon, the Department's daily dashboard update showed the death toll in Northern Ireland is now 697.

And in the last 24 hours, 566 more positive cases have been recorded by the Department.

It said over the last week that 5,424 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19.

As of Friday morning, there have been a total of 37,782 positive cases of the virus in Northern Ireland since the beginning of the pandemic.

A total of 43 coronavirus patients are currently in ICU.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the NI Executive announced that schools will return next week, after an extended Halloween break.

It was also announced that over £790million has been allocated as part of Covid-19 and October monitoring round allocations, with the majority of the funding being used to bolster the health service and test and trace services.

First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill pictured at a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Thursday. (Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

At a press conference where the funding measures were announced, First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, said that the R rate in 10 out of 11 council areas had now reduced to below 1.