The number of people confirmed to have died from coronavirus on the island of Ireland has reached over 700, it was confirmed as plans get underway to offer every medicine graduate in the Republic an internship with the health service in a bid to boost the frontline response to the pandemic.
Figures from the north's Public Health Agency (PHA) show that a further 18 deaths have been recorded in 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 176 in the north. Another 137 cases of infection were also reported, bringing the overall number of confirmed cases north of the border to 2,338.
The figures came as data from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) reported that up to 41 extra suspected Covid-19 deaths in care homes and hospices had not been included in the PHA figures up until April 10.
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew said the extra data on deaths was "essential" for future planning on tackling the virus outbreak.
"This will better inform us about the spread of the virus and about the effectiveness of the measures taken to date," he said.
"I have been pressing the Department of Health for some time to include details on deaths occurring outside of hospitals. This information is vital given we have known for some time about the vulnerability of people in settings such as care homes. Test, trace, isolate, is the clear message from the World Health Organisation.
"Only through extensive testing and contact tracing, including in the community and non-hospital settings such as care homes, can we properly identify the impact of the virus and ultimately save lives."
Meanwhile, the Royal Collage of Nursing (RCN) has warned that around half of nursing staff in the north have felt pressure to carry out their work without the levels of protection set out in official guidance.
A survey of nursing staff showed that 42 percent of people in the north said they are being asked to re-use items of PPE that are marked single use by manufacturers, while 22 percent have said their concerns over PPE had not been addressed.
Pat Cullen, Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland said: "This is an anxious and worrying time for staff, and they must have the reassurance that they can do their jobs with all of the equipment necessary. Time and time again we have been on record as saying this, and it is disappointing to find that there are still problems."
In the Republic, Friday brought a further 44 confirmed Covid-19 deaths, bringing the total to date to 530, while 709 new cases of infection means the total number of confirmed cases in the south stood at 13,980.
Yesterday saw Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announce that for the first time in Ireland, every graduate of medicine will be offered an internship within the health system.
He made the pledge as he addressed University College Cork Medicine graduates, whose exams and graduation were brought forward in order to get more doctors into the field.
"You're graduating early, and you're doing so without being able to celebrate with your friends and your families as I know you'd like to. But there will be a time for that in the months ahead, when we develop new treatments, a new vaccine, a much better and more effective testing and contact tracing regime," the Taoiseach told students in a recorded message.
Meanwhile, in London it was revealed that another 847 people are confirmed to have died in hospitals due to coronavirus. The overall UK confirmed death toll now stands at 14,576, but does not include those who have died outside of hospitals. New UK infections in 24 hours stood at 5,599, bringing the UK's total confirmed coronavirus cases to 108,692.
