WARNINGS have been issued for people to keep away from holiday homes, caravans and popular visitor attractions this Easter.
With weather forecasters predicting sunshine over the Easter holiday weekend, there are fears people will ignore the ongoing lockdown restrictions.
It also comes amid reports of increasing numbers of people out in the streets and fears that people may be tempted to disregard social distancing rules over the Easter holiday.
Numerous appeals were issued yesterday in a bid to encourage people not to travel to areas such Donegal and the north coast which are hugely popular with holidaymakers from the north.
Leading the appeal, Stormont health minister Robin Swann said "your actions today, if you are careless and callous enough, and selfish enough, to ignore those guidelines today, it may be a loved one".
"It may be one of your family that actually ends up in hospital in a fortnight's time.
"They may end up in ICU, they may end up on a ventilator because of your actions."
Ahead of the Easter weekend and in advance of the anticipated surge in Covid-19 cases, doctors across Northern Ireland have also urged people to continue to observe guidelines around social distancing and essential journeys.
Dr Tom Black, chair of the British Medical Association NI, said: "We know that everyone is missing seeing and socialising with their families and friends during this time.
"And particularly at Easter when normally people would be able to visit family, take day trips together or enjoy an Easter Sunday lunch.
“However, we must all continue to work together to stop the spread of coronavirus and make sure our health system is able to manage and treat patients who become very unwell.
"That’s why I am appealing to the public not to visit family unnecessarily or see friends for the next few weeks until we have passed the peak of the outbreak."
PSNI Superintendent Jeremy Lindsay said: "With warmer weather forecast and the longer, lighter days following the clocks changing, many people will want to get out and about and enjoy the fresh air this weekend so I am urging everyone to continue to follow the health advice; stay at home to prevent the spread of infection.
"The very simple health advice is that you should only leave home when it is absolutely essential and it is encouraging that the vast majority of people do appear to be following the health guidelines."
Sean Bateson, mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, also urged people to stay at home.
"Essential travel does not include visits to holiday houses, or caravans. Stay at home, protect yourself, your family, friends, neighbours and the wider community."
Inishowen Sinn Féin TD, Padraig MacLochlainn urged anyone who ha travelled from the north to immediately return to their primary homes.
The area is particularly popular with northerners who have mobile homes and houses in north Donegal.
Many people, particularly from the Derry area, own mobile homes in Buncrana, Greencastle, Ballyliffin and other towns around Lough Swilly.
"I’m appealing to people who are inclined to come to Donegal, who are in Donegal right now to go home," he said.
"There are emergency powers now available to Gardaí
"They have the ability to stop and detain people if necessary; they have the ability to fine people if necessary and, indeed, they can knock on doors of holiday homes and ask people to go home.
"Hopefully it doesn’t come to that and hopefully the small minority of people who are doing that will cop on."
His comments were echoed by Fianna Fáil TD, Charlie McConalogue, who said travelling to Donegal was "simply not an option".
The National Trust, which owns numerous visitor attractions such as the Giant's Causeway, also urged people to stay away from their properties, on what is "traditionally one of the charity’s busiest times".
