This Bank Holiday weekend, the message remains clear – stay at home.
Police have been receiving reports of large numbers of people visiting beauty spots, beaches and parks across Northern Ireland on Sunday.
As a result of these congregations, they are reminding everyone of the advice from the public health partners and Northern Ireland Executive about social distancing and movement.
The PSNI is asking people not travel to popular beaches or beauty spots for daily exercise if it is not necessary, as social distancing may not be achievable where large crowds are gathered.
“Please help us by staying at home as much as possible so that we can be sure our roads, streets, villages, towns and cities are safe for everyone and so that we can all maintain a safe social distance.
“Each of us can play our part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, protect the NHS and save lives and it is important we continue to adhere to Northern Ireland Executive regulations,” said a spokesperson.
And if your child is spending more time online, there are a number of steps you can take to help ensure they are safe.
Houseparty has emerged as a favourite with children, with a heavy increase in downloads. In February, it enjoyed an average of 130,000 a week, but in March that figure reached two million, according to data firm Apptopia.
However, concerns have been raised about its safety.
The free to use app is owned by the developer of Fortnite.
It allows users to play games and make video calls with contacts, emulating the real house party environment.
When contacts are online, a notification is sent to friends, so a ‘room’ can be organised. Rooms can be locked or left open for strangers to join.
Parents often ask – can I stop random people jumping into my child’s Houseparty?
It’s good to know you can prevent people from entering a conversation by locking the room when everyone you want to see has arrived.
There are a few things you can do to boost your child’s privacy. With your child, go to settings (click the smiley face and then the cogwheel button) and switch to private. This way nobody uninvited can join.
If you’re in a chat, you can also click on the padlock icon to lock the chat and keep it private. If your child feels uncomfortable in chat, they can exit by clicking the ‘X’.
You can also change your child’s location settings by going to the permissions section and switching location off. Making sure your child’s location is private helps to keep their personal details and whereabouts safe.
Speaking to Forbes, security expert Lukas Stefanko said that Houseparty was relatively safe compared to many apps, and that the only risk to privacy was the fact that any user you add on the app can start video chatting if you are logged on, unless you change the settings.