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, 1 month, 3 weeks and 2 days)
Confirmed cases	713,294 (as of 20 May 2022)[1]
Deaths	3,445 (Department of Health)[1] 5,681 (NISRA) (as of 12 April 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 5,681 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] 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 10 of over 5,600 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.