The number of people to receive a Covid-19 vaccination in Northern Ireland has passed the 600,000 mark.
Stormont's Department of Health said the number of first doses administered is now 601,101. Of those, 46,927 people have also received their second dose.
Health Minister Robin Swann also confirmed today that the largest delivery of Covid-19 vaccine to-date has arrived in Northern Ireland.
It is understood that more than 100,000 vaccine doses have been received. Robin Swann said the consignment is now being distributed to GPs to administer.
The department also confirmed today that a further 8 coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Northern Ireland during the past 24 hours.
It is the highest number of deaths on a single day since the middle of last month and takes the official Department of Health death toll to 2,087.
There are also 147 new cases of Covid-19 from tests on 1,710 individuals. There are 212 confirmed Covid patients in hospital, with 29 in ICU, 19 of whom are on ventilators.
The average 7-day incidence rate per 100,000 for Northern Ireland is 64.6.
The area with the highest rate is Mid Ulster on 80.7, while the lowest remains Fermanagh and Omagh on 33.4.
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Testing for asymptomatic cases to be rolled out
Mass testing to detect people with asymptomatic Covid-19 is to be rolled out in Northern Ireland.
Sectors prioritised include agri-food, essential retail, manufacturing and construction.
Up to a third of those with the disease have no symptoms.
Matt Wills, head of mass testing in Northern Ireland, said: "New technology makes it possible to test at far greater frequency and pace."
He added: "It is critical to ensuring the safe return to as normal a society as possible."
The tests will screen workplaces providing critical services or those where employees cannot work from home.
Mr Wills said they were trying to have the greatest impact in the shortest period of time.
"We are trying to grasp the low-hanging fruit."
Officials will later consider testing small retailers on the high street.
Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) will be used. Individuals with positive LFTs will have to isolate immediately along with their households.
They should then book a PCR swab test at their closest test site to confirm the result. Community contact tracing will be initiated on PCR confirmation.
Northern Ireland's chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said it represented a major step forward.
He added: "It is important that we do not drop our guard at this time."
In the early stages of the pandemic, the severity of some outbreaks led to some workplaces being temporarily closed.
The rollout of workplace testing is intended to help prevent this by identifying asymptomatic positive cases and interrupting transmission of the virus.
Mr Wills said they were working closely with central and local government to prioritise where to test.
The Department of Health and Social Care said that the new analysis shows that lateral flow device tests (LFDs) to have a specificity of at least 99.9% when used to test in the community.
Lateral flow tests are quick turnaround tests, which can be performed without the need for laboratory assessment.
