The highest daily number of new positive coronavirus cases has been recorded in Northern Ireland.
A total of 1,080 cases were notified by the Department of Health in its daily update.
This is the highest daily total since the current testing model was introduced.
There have been 5,272 new cases of the virus reported in the last seven days, bringing the overall total number of cases confirmed in Northern Ireland to 18,190.
This means that over 25% of all cases in Northern Ireland since the start of the pandemic have been recorded in the past week.
It comes as it emerged that Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill is self-isolating after a family member tested positive for Covid-19.
As of today, 132 Covid-19 patients were being treated in hospital, with 16 in intensive care units and ten on ventilators.
No further deaths were reported by the department, leaving the toll at 587.
In a statement, Northern Ireland's Minister for Health Robin Swann has said "the situation is grave and getting more so, on a daily if not hourly basis."
He also said there has been a progressive rise in Covid-19 hospital patients.
Mr Swan said: "Cases are currently doubling every seven days and hospital admissions every nine days, both reduced from last week.
"If current trends remain unabated hospital inpatients will exceed those of wave one in only two to three weeks."
Meanwhile, Ms O'Neill, who is being tested herself, will need to restrict her movements for two weeks and work remotely from her Co Tyrone home.
The development would only have potential self-isolating consequences for Ms O'Neill's Stormont colleagues if the Sinn Féin vice president tests positive for the virus.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, First Minister Arlene Foster said she believes there was a "relaxation" in people's adherence to social distancing and other public health guidelines during the summer months.
She appealed to people to "get back to basics" on cutting their social contacts, handwashing, the use of face coverings, cough and sneeze etiquette, and social distancing.
Ms Foster also described as "very good" the co-operation between the Stormont Executive and the Irish Government in relation to Covid-19 measures on both sides of the border.
Yesterday, ministers moved to increase fines for non-compliance with Covid-19 regulations.
The executive also extended the number of places where the wearing of face coverings will be compulsory.
However, the power-sharing administration stopped short of introducing any new restrictions on social gatherings or the hospitality industry.
The Stormont Executive is continuing to grapple with high infection rates, with the Derry and Strabane Council districts one of the worst hit areas in Ireland and the UK.
Ministers continue to lobby the UK government for assurances that further financial support will be forthcoming from the Treasury if Northern Ireland is forced to enter another lockdown.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said he raised the issue of funding with Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis during a meeting at Hillsborough Castle yesterday.
Speaking today, Mr Coveney said Mr Lewis assured him money was available to Stormont.
However, Mr Coveney did not clarify if the Northern Ireland Secretary was referring to new money or already-announced initiatives.
"He (Brandon Lewis) assures me that finance is already available to the Executive in Northern Ireland and that finance from London shouldn't be an obstacle to Northern Ireland doing what it needs to do to manage the spread of Covid," Mr Coveney said.
