A further 222 people in the North of Ireland have tested positive for Coronavirus, the Department of Health has confirmed.
That’s an increase of 59 on Thursday’s figure of 163, the highest number since the pandemic erupted here in March.
There are fears now that there could be a second lockdown on the way to halt the rise in cases.
The total number of cases diagnosed since the outbreak began is now 9,165.
Some 913 cases have been reported in the last seven days.
No further deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours.
The death toll remains at 575 under the Department’s calculations which are mostly in a hospital setting.
There are currently 21 COVID-19 inpatients in hospitals here, with four patients in intensive care. Occupancy of beds is now at 85 per cent.
A total of 27 care homes are dealing with outbreaks of the virus.
There have been 96 positive cases in the Derry City and Strabane District Council in the last seven days, with its total now at 414.
The death toll within the council boundary remains at 29 from Coronavirus.
The news comes after Health Minister Robin Swann warned that two-week periods of intense localised lockdowns could be imposed if COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
Mr Swann was speaking before it emerged that a total of nine patients have died across Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital after testing positive for the virus.
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