Could a tougher lockdown be on the cards for Northern Ireland?
The Stormont Executive will be asked to consider a new raft of post-Christmas covid restrictions when it meets later today
Ministers have found themselves in a similar position over the last couple of months so scrutinising another round of measures is nothing new.
However, given the continuing concerns over rising figures, it is understood the Executive could be faced with implementing the toughest restrictions yet.
Last night Health Minister Robin Swann said Northern Ireland required “extreme and robust'' coronavirus restrictions to halt the spread of the virus.
Today he will seek the backing of fellow ministers for new Covid-19 measures when the powersharing Executive meets on Thursday.
Mr Swann declined to be drawn on Wednesday whether he would be recommending an intervention before or after Christmas.
“I can say we will be looking for extreme and robust interventions to get us back into a place where we should be,'' he said.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill signalled that she will support whatever is brought forward by Mr Swann and public health advisers, insisting it was important to make the “right decision'' and “not the popular one''.
Ms O'Neill said there was “no doubt'' an intervention was required.
“Christmas will be here next year also, it is a very difficult time, it is a very difficult decision to make as political leaders, sometimes you have to do the right thing, not the popular thing and in my mind what we need to do is whatever is right to keep people safe and to save lives,'' she said.
“I am up for doing whatever is required, so I'll work with Executive colleagues tomorrow to try and arrive at a position that actually delivers that.''
First Minister Arlene Foster said she did not think Mr Swann would recommend new restrictions for the period prior to Christmas.
“I don't think he will be proposing closing down before Christmas but we will of course look to see what Robin and his team of advisers have to say to us, I don't want to prejudge what he is going to say to us tomorrow but we are in a serious situation,'' she said.
"Unfortunately the last two weeks don't appear to have brought the R number down below 1, there is a diminishing return in terms of restrictions, people are out and about now and so there is a very great need for people to have personal responsibility.''