HEALTH minister Robin Swann last night warned that Northern Ireland is at "probably the most dangerous or riskiest" point of the coronavirus pandemic.
It comes as 29 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed yesterday, with 48 recorded the previous day.
The current per day average stands at 27, compared to three per day at one stage last month.
In the Republic, there were 11 confirmed cases in hospital last night, down from 14 on Tuesday. Five of these patients are in intensive care, while there are also 125 suspected cases of the virus in hospitals.
Mr Swann last night voiced fears that "complacency is setting in" with some people not following even the most basic guidance. He said he was particularly concerned about the increase in those requiring hospitalisation due to the virus.
"We were estimating that we were going to see an increase at some point, but it's just the significance of the increase over the weekend and especially yesterday, in regards to the number of positive cases," he told the BBC.
"But more importantly for us is the number of hospitalisations - because that is one of the major measures we've been using - how many people are ending up in hospital due to Covid-19.
"When we start to see an increase in hospitalisations, that's when alarm bells start to ring."
Mr Swann said "my concern is that complacency is setting in now".
"We're starting to see people taking a step back even from some of the basic guidance that we were putting out - watch your distance, washing your hands and now face coverings as well," he said.
"Those are all there for a reason.
"I'm asking for people in Northern Ireland just to re-engage with the guidance that was put there, so we can prevent a serious increase in the number of cases in the coming weeks and months."
The Department of Health death toll in the north remains at 557, but with 204 cases confirmed in the past seven days, Mr Swann said progress made since March should not "be taken as a sign that Covid-19 is over or finished".
"If we get this wrong now, if we don’t keep our controls in place, if we don’t see the people of Northern Ireland actually respecting the guidance and regulations we are asking them to, we could see a further increase of Covid outbreaks, more hospitalisations, more people going into ICU, and unfortunately more deaths," he said.
He said that is something he nor "anyone in Northern Ireland wants to see".
The health minister also said yesterday that pupils wearing face mask in schools needs to be considered on "a case to case basis".
"We do see from the department of health point of view the benefits of face covering in locations where social distancing cannot be put in place," he said.
It comes after Belfast Royal Academy (BRA) announced earlier this week that it planned to make wearing face coverings mandatory for both pupils and staff.
