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Ms. O’Neill said that taking no further action “would risk the situation getting worse in mid-October onward.”
The stricter Covid-19 restrictions imposed on NI do not represent a second lockdown, but should act as a wake-up call, Prime Minister Arlene Foster said.
In a live televised speech, Ms Foster and Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill called for a “big push” to curb the growing number of Covid-19 cases.
Ms. O’Neill said ministers must “sound the alarm loud and clear.”
She called for “continued patience” and for people to “get back to basics.”
The ministers’ message, explaining why the coronavirus rules were being tightened at NI, aired on BBC One on Tuesday night.
A statement from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson followed, who warned of tougher measures if people did not adhere to the new rules.
He said common sense was the “greatest weapon” against the coronavirus, and the UK’s “collective health” depends on people’s individual behavior.
‘No goodness’
The Covid-19 restrictions were extended to all NI from 18:00 BST.
Specifies that there will be no mixing of homes indoors with the following exceptions:
- Bubbling with another home
- A limit of six people from no more than two households, excluding children 12 and under, can meet in a private garden.
- Responsibilities of care, including the care of children
- Essential maintenance
- Supported living arrangements
- Visits required for legal or medical reasons
- Marriage or civil partnerships in which one of the spouses has a terminal illness
Ms Foster said NI was now reporting the highest number of cases since the early stages of the pandemic, with a 50% increase in hospitalized patients over the past week.
“We have to act,” he said. “But I want to assure you that despite all the headlines, this is not a second block.
“This is a wake-up call. A reminder that we are not out of the woods.”
Media playback is not supported by your device
The prime minister added that the people of Northern Ireland were “naturally hospitable”, however, she cautioned that “it was not polite to host or attend large gatherings in the homes of others at this time”
“We are specifically talking about house parties inside and outside,” he said.
“The only long-term winner from such scenes will be Covid-19.”
‘Absolutely nothing new’
Analysis by Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI Political Correspondent
We heard absolutely nothing new, we could have written the speeches beforehand.
But I think it was the way they delivered, that presidential style, starting with Boris Johnson, followed by the prime minister and the deputy prime minister.
We are being conditioned to tell us that the next few months will be difficult and that we will really have to get down to business.
They know that there will be people who will fight this, that there is fatigue, it was mentioned in his two speeches, but these people are told ‘don’t listen to any outside influence, this is what you should do.
Ms. O’Neill said taking no further action “would risk making the situation worse by mid-October onwards.”
“Your health and the health of your loved ones is in your hands,” he said.
“Maintain social distancing; Good hygiene; Wash your hands frequently; Work from home if you can; Wear a face cover in stores and on public transportation; Download the StopCovid app; Share only information from trusted sources.”
The Northern Ireland Executive will meet on Thursday to consider further measures.
‘Last chance’
This joint televised speech was a last attempt to encourage the public to come on board and follow these restrictions.
Everyone in Northern Ireland can make a difference here, there is a window in the next two to three weeks to help change this.
It is clear that the executive’s attempts to introduce local blocking measures in certain zip codes did not work.
The message was muddy, there was a lack of clarity and a lot of confusion.
The executive now clearly feels that if restrictions need to be introduced then they should be applied across Northern Ireland.
Many of the measures will require the public to use common sense and do their part to help limit the spread of the virus.
I guess sitting on your shoulder is that angel saying that if you don’t do this we could be facing another confinement and no one wants that again.
On Tuesday, the Department of Health announced 75 new cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, up from 125 on Monday, with no further deaths related to the virus.
In the past seven days, 963 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.
Thirty-six people are currently hospitalized with the virus, five of whom are in intensive care.
In the Republic of Ireland, no further coronavirus-related deaths and 334 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported.
It brings the total number of confirmed cases to 33,444. and the death toll remains at 1,792.
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