The Northern Ireland Executive is meeting today to discuss introducing new covid-19 restrictions to curb the recent surge of the virus.
Its Health Minister has warned "extreme and robust" measures will be required.
Ministers in the North will meet later to hear what Health Minister Robin Swann will recommend to tackle their spiralling covid case numbers.
First Minister Arlene Foster says no measures will come before Christmas, but has admitted they are in a serious situation.
3,326 people have tested positive for the virus over the last seven days, almost 200 more than the week prior.
Health Minister Robin Swann says strong action will be required to bring covid numbers down.
The virus is now putting intense strain on the health system, with hospitals operating at 105 per cent capacity.
It's led to Doctors at one Antrim hospital treating patients in ambulances this week.
Monaghan based GP Dr Illona Duffy says something needs to be done to tackle this.
It will be up for Northern Ministers to decide this afternoon when restrictions should kick in - how long they'll last - and how strict they'll have to be to bring the virus back under control.
