Five further coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland on Thursday.
The death toll from the Department of Health now stands at 2,856.
The fatalities are said to have occurred during the current reporting period.
A further 1,549 positive Covid cases have also been recorded in NI today.
This brings the total number of positive cases to 311,007 since the start of the pandemic, according to the Department of Health.
Over the past seven days, the Department said 11,514 individuals have tested positive in Northern Ireland.
According to figures released on Thursday, there are currently 395 Covid-19 confirmed patients in hospital and 35 in intensive care.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Chief Scientific Adviser says vaccines “absolutely do reduce transmission of the Covid-19 virus”.
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In a statement issued on Tuesday evening Professor Ian Young moved to challenge the view that vaccinated people are just as likely to pass on Covid as those who have not been jabbed.
He said several studies worldwide have produced findings that show:
* People who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are less likely to pass it on to others
* They are less likely to catch the virus in the first place,
* And even if they become infected there is evidence that they are less likely to transmit it to others.
Prog Young pointed to one global study which highlights mask-wearing as the "single most effective public health measure" at tackling Covid.
The study, which has been published in the British Medical Journal, analysed data from more than 70 individual studies undertaken in USA, Africa, Australia, Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East.
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