Covid-19: NI testing for new coronavirus variant 'limited'
Northern Ireland is testing for the new coronavirus variant but capacity is limited, BBC News NI understands.
The "English" variant is thought to be about 50-70% more infectious than the original Covid-19 strain that emerged early last year.
It is thought that up to 50% of current Covid-19 cases could be related to the new variant.
The variant was first detected in Northern Ireland in December 2020.
On Sunday, the Department of Health reported 14 more coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the NI total to 1,730.
Another 433 people have tested positive for Covid-19.
Nightingale expands ICU
There are 796 people in hospital in Northern Ireland with the virus, 74 of them are in intensive care and 54 are ventilated.
In the past 36 hours, the Nightingale Hospital - based in the tower block at Belfast City Hospital - has opened eight additional ICU beds, in response to the number of people needing care for Covid-19.
Some patients are being transferred from other hospitals, as are staff.
Testing for the new variant is crucial in identifying clusters. It involves a process called Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) - a detailed and complex analysis system requiring specialist equipment.
'Unfair to dedicated staff'
However, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland said this was not true.
In a statement released on Sunday, it said the Regional Virus Laboratory (RVL) had reported over 200 genome sequences and that it is likely to increase its throughput to over 300 sequences next week and over 400 the following week.
"At present the UK, including NI as part of the COG-UK Consortium, is carrying out 40% of all global whole genome sequencing and is submitting its data... to share with other countries," the statement read.
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