THE NORTHERN IRELAND Department of Health has said that 934 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours. 

This is the highest number recorded to date and more than twice the previous daily high of 424 recorded on Wednesday.

One further death has been reported, bringing the total death toll in Northern Ireland from Covid-19 to 582.

A total of 12,886 cases have been confirmed to date in Northern Ireland. 

A further 201 cases in the Derry and Strabane area today brings the incidence rate there to 422.8 per 100,000.

Further restrictions are set to take effect in this area from Monday. The city of Derry and nearby town of Strabane together have one of the highest levels in the UK .

The NI chief scientific advisor Professor Ian Young said the executive would have little alternative but to opt for a full lockdown in the Derry City and Strabane area if soaring infection rates were not halted by new beefed-up restrictions being introduced next week.

Households across Northern Ireland have already been barred from mixing indoors in private homes.

Concerns have been raised at the potential for cross-border spread of Covid-19, given the high numbers of cases in Donegal and Derry. 

Last weekend, TheJournal.ie reported that there is little cross-border co-operation on testing, while locals say any agreement on guidelines is more ‘coincidence than co-operation’. 

It has also emerged that another patient has died with Covid-19 at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Down.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust said the tally of fatalities connected to the male medical ward is six.

A total of 28 staff and 13 patients have tested positive.

A trust spokeswoman said: “We again express our profound sorrow to the family of the patient who has passed away.

“We can confirm that the independent serious adverse incident review is currently underway and all deaths will be included as part of this process.”

With reporting by Garreth MacNamee