Number of patients with Covid-19 in intensive care rises

The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care has risen by more than a third in the past week.

It now stands at 42, while there are 110 patients with the virus across the hospital system which is down 11%  in the same period.

2,870 cases have been reported over the past seven days - down 2% on the previous week. 

A total of 41 cases of the Indian variant of concern had been detected here by Friday. 

And public health expert, Professor Gabriel Scally, fears that will increase sharply - like in the UK. 

"I think there's every danger. It's certainly much more infectious than the Kent variant.

"Take off has been very very rapid in the UK, and it has dominated a lot of local areas where it is now causing enormous problems.

"We don't know whether it's more likely to be more dangerous to people if they get it, and we don't know to what extent if any it will escape the vaccine immunity."