covid-19 pandemic in northern ireland covid-19 pandemic in northern ireland the covid-19 pandemic reached northern ireland in february 2020. the department of health reports 3,445 deaths overall among people who had recently tested positive. the northern ireland statistics and research agency reports 5,283 where the death certificate mentioned covid as one possible cause (see statistics). northern ireland has the lowest covid death rate per population in the united kingdom. the vast majority of deaths have been among those over the age of 60 and almost half were in care homes. according to figures, about 1 in 10 of over 5,200 who have passed have been under 65. for the pandemic in the uk as a whole, see covid-19 pandemic in the united kingdom. for the republic of ireland, see covid-19 pandemic in the republic of ireland. covid-19 pandemic in northern irelandcumulative 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 ≥38,9867-day incidence rate per 100,000 residents by lgd, as of midnight 13 april 2022. <195 195–236 236–278 278–319 319–360 ≥360diseasecovid-19virus strainsars-cov-2locationnorthern ireland, united kingdomfirst outbreakwuhan, hubei, chinaindex casebelfastarrival date27 february 2020 (3 years, 2 months, 1 week and 5 days)confirmed cases713,294 (as of 20 may 2022)deaths3,445 (department of health)5,283 (nisra) (as of 5 may 2023)fatality rate1.87% (doh) 2.46% (nisra)government websitenorthern ireland department of health part of a series on thecovid-19 pandemicin the united kingdom, british overseas territories and crown dependencies history responses legislation statistics (part of the global covid-19 pandemic) locations london countries england scotland wales northern ireland crown dependencies guernsey isle of man jersey british overseas territories anguilla akrotiri and dhekelia bermuda british indian ocean territory british virgin islands cayman islands falkland islands gibraltar montserrat saint helena, ascension and tristan da cunha turks and caicos islands pitcairn islands british overseas territories without confirmed cases british antarctic territory south georgia and the south sandwich islands timelines united kingdom january-june 2020 july–december 2020 january-june 2021 july–december 2021 january-june 2022 july-december 2022 2023 england january-june 2020 july–december 2020 2021 2022 scotland 2020 2021 2022 wales 2020 2021 2022 northern ireland 2020 2021 2022 key topics healthcare vaccination temporary hospitals covid passports responses government response contract controversies lockdown public inquiry contact tracing military (domestic, overseas) impacts society economy education politics retail covid-19 portal category 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. on 21 april, northern ireland's chief scientific advisor said the curve of new cases had flattened, and the peak had passed. 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. 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. timeline health care in the united kingdom is devolved, with england, northern ireland, scotland and wales each having their own publicly funded healthcare systems, funded by devolved block grants via the barnett formula and accountable to separate governments and parliaments, together with smaller private sector and voluntary provision. as a result of each country having different policies and priorities, differences now exist between these systems.