There have been no further coronavirus-related deaths recorded in Northern Ireland for a second consecutive day.
The official Department of Health toll remains at 2,107.
It is the first time in nearly six months that no deaths have been recorded on consecutive days.
There are 183 new cases from tests on 2,890 individuals.
There are 153 confirmed Covid-19 patients in hospital. There are 14 patients in ICU, 10 of whom are on ventilators.
The average seven-day incidence rate per 100,000 people in Northern Ireland is 56.0.
The area with the highest rate remains Mid Ulster on 84.7, while the lowest remains Fermanagh and Omagh on 25.7.
Meanwhile, a number of landmarks have been passed in Northern Ireland's vaccine roll-out.
The total number of doses administered has passed the 800,000 mark, with the total standing at 808,241.
The number of first doses has broken the 700,000 barrier, with 703,334 individuals now having received their first jab.
The number of second doses has topped 100,000, with the total at 104,907.
In a statement, Stormont health minister Robin Swann said: "All the immense work being done to deliver the vaccination programme is giving everyone in Northern Ireland hope and optimism for the future.
"More landmarks will be reached next week when we open the SSE Arena vaccination centre and community pharmacists begin administering vaccines."
Work ongoing on hotel quarantine plans for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is set to adopt the UK's coronavirus red list of countries, First Minister Arlene Foster has said.
Brazil and South Africa are on the current red list of countries from which entry to the UK is banned.
The Stormont Executive also heard that work is ongoing on hotel quarantine plans for travellers arriving from abroad.
There are currently no international flights landing in Northern Ireland.
Mrs Foster welcomed "improvements across all indicators", in terms of Covid-19.
The R-rate for cases of the virus is currently estimated at between 0.75 and 0.95.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill welcomed a second consecutive day of no further coronavirus deaths as a "welcome sign we are continuing to move in the right direction".
Ms O'Neill said international travel was discussed in some detail by the Executive.
"This is a fundamental concern for us all as we seek to manage the risks that are arising from the new variants and align with the scientific and medical advice we have agreed the introduction of managed isolation and hotel accommodation on return from red list countries for a period of ten days to be pre booked before arrival here," she said.
"This will be kept under review and our arrangements for managed hotel isolation will be flexible to enable a broader approach on international travel to be put in place should the need arise."
The Executive has also agreed to the limited reopening of SureStart and youth services as well as the extension of the business support scheme for close contact businesses and support for large tourism and hospitality businesses while restrictions remain in place.
'Astronomical' numbers of patients contacting GPs
Earlier, a leading doctor said "astronomical" numbers of patients are contacting GP surgeries in Northern Ireland.
Despite a perception that doctors' practices have been closed during the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Alan Stout said 150,000-160,000 consultations are being held per week, with another 10,000 via the out-of-hours service.
The British Medical Association's Northern Ireland representative made the comments to Stormont's Health Committee.
Dr Stout said it had been a "very tough" year for general practice, but that the pandemic had also shown the "vital role" it plays in the health service.
He told MLAs that GPs have run a dual service across the pandemic, staffing Covid-19 centres and their own practice as well as delivering the flu and coronavirus vaccine programmes.
"All of these equate to almost four jobs in one with an ever-increasing demand and a constrained, stressed and extremely fatigued workforce," he said.
"There is no question that every single GP is finding it very, very tough at the moment.
"This has actually been further challenged by the perception that GP practices have closed during the pandemic. We have all worked hard to ensure that patients know that this is very far from the reality."
Dr Stout pointed out that general practice was under a "huge degree of pressure pre-pandemic", stressing the importance of changing how care is delivered to patients.
He said for many, virtual appointments have suited their lives, and this also allows doctors to see more patients.
Dr Stout described the numbers seen as "astronomical" and "astounding".
"Consultations at the moment are sitting somewhere between 150,000-160,000 per week. There's an additional 10,000 consultations per week in GP out of hours," he said.
"About a third of those are converted to face-to-face consultations.
"As a headline figure, that's about 80 patients per 1,000 that are contacting their GP practice per week, and that is an absolutely astonishing number, that is 8-9% of the population."
Dr Stout said those include Covid-19 inquiries as well as other health needs.
"And I think every practice is reporting that that is increasing rapidly," he said.
Dr Laurence Dorman of the Royal College of General Practitioners also gave evidence to the committee.
He said that with the increase in calls following reduced numbers at the start of the pandemic, he would expect an increase in cancer diagnoses.
Dr Stout said that was an area that "really concerns GPs".
"The referral numbers (made by GPs) have gone down and the red-flag referrals have also gone down, and that is concerning ... the big unknown are presentations that just haven't contacted us yet, and we know that that is coming," he said.
Additional reporting PA
