Another nine people have died after testing positive for Covid-19, the Department of Health revealed today.
It takes the total number of deaths since the pandemic began to 2,865.
In the last 24-hour reporting period, 2,004 postive cases were recorded. It is only the third time since the start of the pandemic that more than 2,000 cases have been confirmed in a single day.
As of this morning there were 370 patients who tested positive for coronavirus in hospital with 33 in intensive care. Of these, 22 are on ventilators.
There are currently 14 unoccupied ICU beds in the north.
Hospitals remain under pressure with a combined total of 77 beds over capacity.
Today's figures were released as a new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa was described as the most "complex" and "worrying" yet seen.
This afternoon, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons called for the Stormont Executive to ditch its plan for a Covid passport system across the hospitality sector.
