WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS

 » Numbers in ICUs drop 20% in a week  » But 18 more dead as tragic toll at 1,446

- SYLVIA POWNALL

SIMON Harris confirmed yesterday that numbers being treated in intensive care with Covid-19 had dropped by over 20% over the last week.

The Health Minister said there were 72 coronavirus patients in ICU yesterday, compared to 76 on Friday and 99 a week earlier.

Speaking at the weekly meeting of the medical leaders forum he said we had made “good progress” but we need to build on the positive trend and finish the job.

Last night a further 18 deaths from Covid-19 were confirmed, bringing the country’s death toll from the virus to 1,446.

Health chiefs also revealed 219 new cases had been diagnosed taking the total number of infections to 22,760.

Of the 22,495 cases up to midnight on Thursday May 7, more than half (57%) are female and the median age of confirmed cases remains at 49.

Mr Harris welcomed the drop in ICU admissions and said we were going in the right direction.

He added: “These are real people, fewer people getting very, very sick and going into our ICUs that is a good thing.