RESTRICTIONS on movement are to remain in place for the "foreseeable future".
Communities minister Deirdre Hargey also warned that enforcement measures could be increased if people did not stay home.
Ms Hargey was speaking at Stormont's daily Covid-19 press conference.
It was revealed the number of deaths has reached 78 in Northern Ireland - including five in the previous 24 hours.
Across the UK, the total number of deaths in hospitals has risen to 7,097 - with a record increase of 938 in a day.
A further 365 new cases have been confirmed in the Republic, taking the total there to 6,074.
The death toll there has risen to 235, with 25 further deaths reported since Tuesday, the National Public Health Emergency team announced.
At Stormont last night, Ms Hargey was asked whether there was likely to be any change in measures when they are reviewed next week.
"I think the restrictions are in for the foreseeable future," she replied.
"We obviously continuously look at the medical advice and the modelling that is there. We know that the restrictions that have been put in over the last number of weeks have had an impact and we want to make sure that that continues and that there's no sharp increase in the number of cases.
"What we don't want is to lift that too early and then seeing a sharp rise again, and that is a concern."
Ms Hargey said she wanted the public to comply voluntarily and stressed that police would be engaging and encouraging people in the first instance.
But she made clear officers would take enforcement action if required.
"I think it is clear that getting into a car to go and take exercise is not going to do exercise - it's actually a day trip out, and it's unnecessary and it shouldn't happen," she said.
Agriculture minister Edwin Poots said the daily death updates were like flashbacks to the Troubles.
He urged people to "hold their nerve" and continue to adhere to social distancing restrictions.
Mr Poots said some people had been "misbehaving badly" and should face appropriate punishment.
"Every one of us can make a contribution to ensuring that there are less people lose their lives by following the steps that have been outlined - they are working and the public need to know this," he said.
"What they're doing is actually working, it's doing good, they are saving lives.
"Keep at it. Now is not the time to go weak on it, now is not the time to give up. Keep at it - you're doing a wonderful job.
"There's some people who are misbehaving badly. I hope those people are punished for it appropriately. The rest of you, you're doing a brilliant job, keep doing what you're doing, you're saving lives, and you're saving our health service and supporting the superb work that our healthcare workers are doing."
Asked if Northern Ireland should consider replicating restrictions in place in the Republic - preventing travel beyond 2km of home - Mr Poots stressed that police were patrolling the streets to ensure people were not out for inappropriate reasons.
