A further 18 people with Coronavirus have died in hospital in the North of Ireland, it was announced on Thursday.
It is the highest rise in deaths in a 24-hour period since the outbreak began, bringing the total to 158.
A total of 14,420 people have been tested for COVID-19 so far.
There have now been 2,201 confirmed COVID-19 cases, a rise of 113 in 24 hours.
First Minister Arlene Foster said she hoped family members would be able to visit dying relatives in NI after changes to UK coronavirus guidelines.
The health secretary announced new guidelines advising visits should be allowed “at the end of life”.
Many families have not been allowed to say goodbye to loved ones in person due to Covid restrictions.
Earlier on Thursday Mrs Foster said an announcement regarding being able to visit dying relatives was expected from the health minister.
“I very much hope that there will be something that we can do here,” Mrs Foster told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme.
“I think the health minister will be looking at how he can make that happen and working with not just hospitals, but also nursing homes to make that happen.”
The North of Ireland has extended the lock down for a further three weeks in a bid to save lives and protect the NHS from a surge in patients.
On Friday, the Public Agency will give details of how many people have sadly died in care homes here from Coronavirus.
