The number of people hospitalised with Covid-19 has risen by almost a quarter in the past week, official figures show.
Public Health Agency (PHA) statistics show an increase in emergency admissions since the start of December, with 38 in the past week, compared to 30 the previous week.
The PHA is urging those eligible for Covid and flu vaccines to take up the offer.
The agency said there are high levels of flu circulating elsewhere in the UK.
Dr Maeve Middleton of the PHA said that while flu levels in the north were low, they were expected to increase.
“We are starting to see a small rise and we expect that to increase over the next couple of weeks, particularly over the Christmas and new year period,” she told the BBC.
“With Covid we are seeing a similar trend where we know that it will increase over the next couple of weeks and we are starting to see a slight rise in our hospital admissions – that is why vaccination is so important for people to protect themselves.”
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Community Pharmacy NI chief executive Gerard Greene said the majority of those eligible had already received Covid and flu vaccines.
“This week pharmacies are extremely busy with a range of other priorities so it’s a case of if people feel that they want to get the vaccine, go to their normal pharmacy and see what arrangements the pharmacy may have in place to do the vaccine,” he said.
“If the pharmacy is not offering the vaccination service a this stage then maybe they will be able to signpost on.”
