Northern Ireland has recorded its lowest number of Covid-19 cases in over a month, as 422 individuals tested positive for the virus over the past 24 hours.
A further 17 people who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 in the region have died, according to the latest figures from its department of health.
There are 828 Covid-positive inpatients in hospitals, of whom 74 are in intensive care units.
On Sunday, the number of cases in the region surpassed the 100,000 mark, with a further 433 new cases and a further 14 deaths.
The post-Christmas lockdown was extended by Stormont ministers on Thursday for a further four weeks until March 5th. It had been scheduled to end next month.
Transmission rates are decreasing slowly and new, more contagious variants are causing Stormont ministers concern.
The restrictions ultimately may not be lifted until after Easter.
Inevitable
First Minister Arlene Foster said on Sunday that people needed to work together and adhere to public health measures to “overcome this dreadful virus”.
Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Mrs Foster said: “I have often said, none of this is inevitable. What we need to have is people working with us so that we can overcome this dreadful virus.
“Now that we have the vaccine programme running so effectively in Northern Ireland, that gives a lot of hope for people in the future. We just need to keep working together and make sure we get to the end of this journey and make sure we get through it so that we can rebuild our economy and society.”
The DUP leader said it was important for the community to realise the pressure on the region’s hospitals and support health care workers by adhering to restrictions.
