Northern Ireland has today recorded six more Covid-19 deaths and 486 new cases.
Three of the deaths occurred in the past 24 hours.
444 people are currently in hospital with the virus.
The figures come as more than 4,000 people in the North have received the coronavirus vaccine to date.
Health Minister Robin Swann said health trusts plan to start delivering the jab to health workers this week.
Meanwhile, Chief Executives of the six Health and Social Care Trusts have issued a stark warning about unbearable pressures across the system in Northern Ireland, in the event of a probable further COVID-19 spike in early January.
“Several of Northern Ireland’s acute hospitals are already operating beyond capacity and flow through hospitals has been seriously impacted by required restrictions as a result of COVID-19. Add pre-existing staffing pressures and staff absence due to COVID-19 infection, or the need to self-isolate, and there is a very real risk that hospitals will be overwhelmed in the event of a further COVID-19 spike in January,” the joint statement said.
“We are not making this point lightly and as a result, we are appealing to the public to be extremely cautious over the festive period and to take all necessary precautions to stop the virus spreading.”
