Coronavirus: British and Irish PMs express NI Covid concern
Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have expressed concerns about the rising numbers of coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland.
The two leaders spoke by phone on Thursday morning.
Mr Johnson also raised concerns about the impact of "restrictions on the economy", an Irish government spokesperson said.
They agreed to monitor the situation and remain in touch.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she and First Minister Arlene Foster have asked for "an urgent conversation" with Mr Johnson due to cases rising "at an alarming rate".
NI's chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride will speak with his Republic of Ireland counterpart Dr Tony Holohan later on Thursday.
It comes as the Stormont Executive meets by videoconference to consider approving tougher fines for breaches of coronavirus laws.
Justice Minister Naomi Long has been carrying out a review of the penalties.
The plans would see Northern Ireland's fines comparable with other jurisdictions like England, where the minimum fixed penalty notice is £200.
Currently, fines in NI start at £60 but can rise to £960 for repeat offenders.
People in Northern Ireland can also be fined £1,000 for failing to self-isolate - that is lower than in England, where the fine can be as high as £10,000.
Last week, Arlene Foster had warned that "tougher penalties are coming", in a sign the executive wants to take a harder stance on those who flout the rules.
On Wednesday evening, Health Minister Robin Swann told the BBC's Nolan Show: "If the penalty for not wearing a face covering is not enough to get people to do it, then we have to increase that penalty."
He said ministers would have to "step up enforcement" which would require the involvement of police and "our entire justice system getting behind the health messaging that we need people to follow".
Mr Swann suggested that council environmental health officers may also be involved in the enforcement of face coverings in shops.
He added that he wanted to encourage the retail sector to "step up and take some ownership of this".
Face coverings in workplaces?
It is believed ministers will also discuss extending the use of mandatory face coverings to other settings at Thursday's executive meeting.
Face coverings are compulsory on public transport and for customers in shops, but ministers are likely to look at extending the measure for staff in shops and other workplaces.
They are also expected to explore the possibility of extending tighter local restrictions to the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area.
However, it is believed they could stop short of imposing the measures on Thursday, instead keeping the situation across Northern Ireland under daily review between now and Monday.
On Wednesday, Northern Ireland Chief Scientific Adviser Prof Ian Young said of the coronavirus clusters identified, more than half of them had been linked to the hospitality sector.
Stormont ministers have not ruled out bringing in a circuit breaker over the half-term holidays, if localised restrictions do not help to halt the rise in infections.
A circuit breaker is a lockdown for a short period of time, possibly two weeks, to slow the spread of the virus.
It would likely see all pubs and restaurants in Northern Ireland forced to close for the two weeks.
But Economy Minister Diane Dodds said it would only be viable with additional financial support from Westminster.
Colin Johnston, the managing director of Galgorm Collection, said "the stark reality" is that up to 75% of hospitality jobs could be lost in Northern Ireland by Christmas if there is another lockdown period without support for the industry.
The hotel and restaurant business employs close to 900 people.
"We understand that everyone's health is vitally important, however, we must urgently find a way forward to protect jobs and livelihoods and the very future of tourism and hospitality industry in Northern Ireland," he said.
It is thought there could be further announcements next week from the Treasury about providing support to the hospitality industry in the worst hit areas of England, where pub closures are being explored.
That could automatically lead to some extra funding for Northern Ireland through what is known as a Barnett consequential.
'Dramatic changes'
Meanwhile, interim chief executive of the South Eastern Health Trust Seamus McGoran said now is "a critical time" for the NHS and the public.
He told the BBC: "It feels rather like March, when we were not really in the foothills of the surge, but one third to half way up the mountain. Unless we make dramatic changes within our behaviours within the community, we're going to be exactly where we were in about two to three weeks' time."
