ELEVEN more deaths resulting from coronavirus have been reported across the island of Ireland, with 10 of those north of the border.
The latest figures released by the Department of Health bring the total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic to 996, while in the Republic, the new death has pushed the toll to 2,053.
A further 290 cases of infection have been reported in the north, bringing the overall number of cases to 52,465.
The new figures came as Stormont health minister Robin Swann announced a range of contact tracing measures designed to find asymptomatic cases will be rolled out this week.
"This is a significant development to our approach to combating the virus and will ensure a strong focus on identifying the likely source of the cause of infection and identifying potential common exposure which can lead to clusters," he said.
It comes as the PSNI released new figures showing the extent of its coronavirus enforcement, with 2,835 penalty notices issued to members of the public since March.
Along with standard fines, the force has also issued 608 prohibition notices relating to gatherings taking place in private dwellings.
A total of 123 prohibition notices have also been issued to commercial premises, ordering owners to cease activity deemed unsafe, while 22 penalty notices have been issued to businesses, featuring fines of up to £10,000.
Officers have handed out 1,384 Community Resolution Notices for less serious breaches, and 49 'Failure to Isolate' penalties of £1,000 for those who failed to follow quarantine guidelines.
As of November 30, there are 374 officers and members of staff absent due to Covid-19, with 313 currently self-isolating.
Meanwhile, singer Van Morrison has joined fellow music legend Eric Clapton on a new single, 'Stand and Deliver', to raise money for Morrison's 'Save Live Music' campaign.
Belfast-born Morrison sparked fury with his previous anti-lockdown songs, prompting the north's health minister Robin Swann to say the tunes were aimed at "conspiracy theorists".
Meanwhile, it has emerged that East Antrim DUP MP Sammy Wilson claimed expenses of £48.56 for face masks.
The MP, who has faced criticism in recent months after being pictured failing to correctly wear a mask while travelling in public, made the expenses claim in May.
Mr Wilson - who earns an MP's salary of almost £82,000 - described the masks for use in a "face to face meeting" and for "travel to Westminster".
A statement from the DUP yesterday said the masks paid for by the expenses claim were for the use of staff and visitors to his constituency office, adding: "Mr Wilson has not claimed for the provision of his own masks."
