Health Minister Robin Swann says there are plans to construct a second Nightingale hospital as a ‘step down’ facility heading into the winter.
This will be based at Whiteabbey Hospital and will provide 100 beds.
The Health Minister was speaking following two deaths and 71 new cases.
There are plans in place now in preparation for a second surge.
At this start of the pandemic, Mr Swann said the surge in cases would be ‘of biblical proportions.’
The first positive case of COVID-19 in Northern Ireland was diagnosed in a woman on February 27. She had travelled to Italy and flew in to Dublin Airport before journeying on to Northern Ireland.
The first death due to coronavirus here was confirmed on 19 March.
The elderly man who was being treated in hospital had an underlying medical condition.