Arlene Foster: Public health advice has never mattered so much
Following the public health advice has never mattered so much, Stormont's First Minister said.
The reproductive rate of coronavirus is approaching 1.8, with the number diagnosed every day nearing 2,000.
The peak in admissions to Northern Ireland's crowded hospitals is envisaged during the last fortnight of this month.
Arlene Foster said: "We will be asking everyone to help us get through the next period of time by complying with the public health messaging and by adhering to the full range of restrictions because it has never mattered so much."
Schools will close in most cases, with youngsters to be taught via remote learning.
Many exams have been cancelled.
The DUP leader added: "We're also asking schools, teachers, parents, children and the wider education community to take very difficult steps now.
"We have been there before and we have won, and we've made it a priority to avoid impacting on schools again unless it was absolutely vital to do so.
"Unfortunately it's not possible to protect the health service and keep people safe without taking steps now with schools."
"We have to make space for the health service to deal with the serious rise in case numbers, and as always we pay tribute to everything that our health and social care colleagues are engaged with to keep us safe and to save lives."
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said children had been under pressure over the last year and denied the opportunity to mix with their peers.
She claimed many had been "left hanging" and not knowing if they will have to sit transfer tests for grammar schools.
Ms O'Neill confirmed the new measures would include remote learning for schools, limited contact in domestic settings and statutory measures to support the stay-at-home message.
"Our priorities remain unchanged, we are committing to saving lives, protecting our health service from being overwhelmed and doing all that we can to reduce the spread of this deadly virus," she said.
Our correspondent Jane Loughrey reports:
Meanwhile, Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long has confirmed it will be an offence to be away from home without a reasonable excuse.
The fine will be £200 but can reach £5,000 if the case goes to court.
"In addition, police will have the power to direct people to return to their home...and additionally have the power to remove a person to where they normally reside," she told MLAs.
Ms Long emphasised that enforcement will remain a last resort but she said there will be a higher police presence at places that present the greatest risk.
"The PSNI will continue to clamp down on house parties or businesses operating outside of the regulations because of the harm being done by these events," she said.
She also said the public are advised to stay within 10 miles of their home to take exercise.
"This was a matter which the Executive considered very carefully. In some jurisdictions, steps have been taken to place in law a distance limit within which exercise must be taken. The Executive decided it was not proportionate to go down that route at this stage," she told MLAs.
Earlier, Mark Lindsay of the Police Federation questioned whether officers had the power to cross the threshold of a residence.
Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt deferred the query to Justice Minister Naomi Long.
"The health protection regulations as laid by the department of health gave those tasked with enforcement the power to take any actions necessary to enforce any legal restrictions and it is the view of the Executive that that includes the right of power of entry," she told MLAs.
Barbara McCann reports: