By Q Radio News
Another 9 people have died in Northern Ireland after contracting COVID19.
It brings the total number of deaths recorded by the Department of Health to 1,966.
A further 253 new coronavirus cases have also been confirmed within the past 24 hours.
It comes after the Chief Medical Officer warned the return schools could result in the R number increasing by as much as 50%.
Dr Michael McBride urged caution when it comes to relaxing current rules in place to drive down Covid-19 infection rates.
He repeated his concerns about new variants at Stormont's health committee earlier.
Yesterday the health minister called for “baby steps” ahead of the Executive's review of restrictions next week.
Robin Swann said: “This is not to say that lockdown, or partial lockdown, will roll on indefinitely.
“It doesn’t have to be that way.”
He said continued restrictions and lockdown are not the same thing.
“If we continue with the progress we are making, we can consider a careful, managed, easing of some measures – but only when and if the timing is right.”
He said caution must be the watchword.
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