COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland

COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland
Cumulative cases per 100,000 residents by LGD, as of midnight 13 April 2022.   <33,874   33,874–35,578   35,578–37,282   37,282–38,986   ≥38,986
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
First outbreak	Wuhan, Hubei, China
Index case	Belfast
Arrival date	27 February 2020 (4 years, 8 months and 3 weeks)
Confirmed cases	713,294 (as of 20 May 2022)[1]
Deaths	3,445 (Department of Health)[1] 5,753 (NISRA) (as of 8 November 2024)[2]
Fatality rate	1.87% (DOH) 2.46% (NISRA)
Government website
Northern Ireland Department of Health

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COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
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Timelines United Kingdom January-June 2020 July–December 2020 January-June 2021 July–December 2021 January-June 2022 July-December 2022 2023 2024 England January-June 2020 July–December 2020 2021 2022 Scotland 2020 2021 2022 Wales 2020 2021 2022 Northern Ireland 2020 2021 2022
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The COVID-19 pandemic reached Northern Ireland in February 2020. At the start of the first official lockdown, the Department of Health reported 3,445 deaths overall among people who had recently tested positive.^[1] The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency reported 5,753 where the death certificate mentioned COVID as one possible cause (see Statistics).^[2] Northern Ireland has the lowest COVID death rate per population in the United Kingdom.^[3] Covid statistics were very available at the start of the pandemic. The vast majority of deaths were among those over the age of 60 and almost half were in care homes. According to figures, about 1 in 12 of over 5,700 who died from the acute infection were under 65.^{[citation needed]}

On 23 March 2020, Northern Ireland went into lockdown with the rest of the UK. A stay-at-home order banned "non-essential" travel and contact with others, and schools, businesses, venues, amenities and places of worship were shut. Major events such as Saint Patrick's Day were cancelled. A lengthy lockdown was forecast to severely damage the economy and lead to a large rise in unemployment. The health service worked to raise hospital capacity. In mid-April, Department of Health modeling indicated the health service in Northern Ireland could cope with the expected peak in cases.^[4] On 21 April, Northern Ireland's chief scientific advisor said the curve of new cases had flattened, and the peak had passed.^[5]

The lockdown was gradually lifted in June–July, as infection and death rates dropped. Schools remained closed for summer break, but re-opened in September. The infection rate (or positivity rate) rose again that month and restrictions were re-imposed.^[6] On 16 October, Northern Ireland went into an eight-week lockdown, although schools remained open, and some restrictions were eased for one week. The lockdown was mostly lifted on 11 December. Following a brief easing of restrictions at Christmas, another lockdown was imposed on 26 December, including schools, as the positivity rate rose sharply. A mass vaccination program began, and the infection rate fell in early 2021. Schools re-opened in March, and the lockdown was gradually lifted from late April. In December, proof of vaccination or non-infection became mandatory to enter indoor venues.