'Stick or twist?' - another D-day ahead for NI Executive in covid fight
The Stormont Executive meets later today (Thursday) to decide on the next course of action to tackle Northern Ireland's covid case surge.
Ministers will discuss whether additional restrictions will be needed to curb the spike.
First Minister Arlene Foster said they would be finding out how the current restrictions were working and then make a decision.
She said everyone was "fed up'' with Covid-19 and "want it to be over and done with'' but urged continued compliance with public health rules.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill warned: "Things are going to get worse if people don't act now.''
Meanwhile, Health Minister Robin Swann said virus naysayers were giving a two-fingered salute to the NHS.
The average number of daily new cases has been more than doubling within the last week yet some have shown "wilful complacency'', Robin Swann said.
Mr Swann said 106 Covid-19 patients were in hospital but warned that appeals to follow health advice may be falling on too many deaf ears and being undermined by too many self-appointed experts.
He said: "It is what I would call wilful complacency.
"It is a two-fingered salute to the rest of us, to the medically vulnerable and to our health workers.
"These minority have decided that the risk to them personally is probably low, that they can just get on with their lives.''
The proportion of those testing positive has risen to 12% some days.
Large numbers of cases in Newry and Down may be showing recent signs of stabilising, Stormont's chief scientific adviser Professor Ian Young said.
He highlighted unpredictable and potentially long-lasting consequences for some who contracted the illness.
The reproductive rate of the virus is at around 1.5, explaining the large increase in cases and hospital admissions.
Prof Young said the number of admissions to hospital took off in the middle of last month and the tally of inpatients was doubling every week.
He added patient numbers could equal those seen during the first wave of the pandemic within two or three weeks.
"At the moment, the seven-day rolling average of new cases per day is above 500 and has more than doubled within the last week.''
Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said there was a rising trajectory of cases.
"Our health and care workers don't wish to see you clapping once more, they need you to demonstrate your commitment and support by recommitting to the advice and measures that have gotten us this far to date.''