All parts of the country have experienced a rise in case numbers, though some claim Northern Ireland now has a higher incidence of the disease than the Republic.
Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said infection rates in the North are "much higher" than in the South.
"Belfast has a much higher incidence than any other city in Ireland," he said.
His comments came ahead of the announcement of new coronavirus restrictions in Ballymena, the area covered by Belfast City Council, and a postal area including Lisburn.
Speaking on Thursday evening, Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster said these were “areas where the spread is of particular concern, where cases are double or treble the average rate for the province.”
The latest data for coronavirus infections in the North does show how certain areas have high incidence rates when compared to the rest of the North and the Republic.
The Belfast City Council area has the highest rate, with an average of 96.7 cases recorded per 100,000 people in the past two weeks.
This is much higher than Co Dublin, which, according to the latest data, has a comparable incidence rate of 67.8 per 100,000.
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Other council areas in North are also recording higher infection rates than Co Dublin currently, including Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid and East Ulster, Lisburn and Castlereagh, and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.
However, certain parts of Co Dublin have drastically different 14-day incidence rates, with one Local Health Office area in the county recording a rate of 83.3.
Areas in the west and north of Northern Ireland have lower incidence rates, more comparable to some western and southern counties in the Republic that are further from major urban centres.
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Though direct comparison between the two jurisdictions is complicated by separate Covid testing and data gathering, the latest figures do confirm that parts of the North are experiencing higher infection rates than elsewhere on the island.
The new restrictions in Belfast, Ballymena and Lisburn will be in place for two weeks. No mixing of households in private dwellings will be allowed and no more than six people from two households can meet in gardens.
Ms Foster said: “What we are proposing today is a proportionate and measured approach to specific [circumstances] existing currently in identified areas.”
She urged people to take action.
“Protect yourselves and protect others now.”
