Some 1,283 new cases of COVID-19 have been announced as Ireland is set to move to higher level COVID restrictions.
Now there have been a total of 49,962 infections in the country since March.
Sadly three people have died of the virus and the death toll stands at 1,852.
Of the cases notified today;
- 651 are women / 628 are men
- 68% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 31 years old
- 408 in Dublin, 156 in Cork, 88 in Kildare, 80 in Meath, 55 in Limerick and the remaining 496 cases are spread across 21 counties.
As of 2pm today 277 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 33 are in ICU. 17 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Earlier today Simon Harris has confirmed that Ireland will be moved to a higher level of coronavirus restrictions after Cabinet meets tomorrow.
The Minister for Further and Higher Education said current measures - which see Dublin at Level 3 of the five level framework - are not working as cases of the deadly virus continue to soar across the country.
The former Health Minister said county by county restrictions measures were also not effective but the Government would balance any new measures "with our honest view on what people can bear or sustain".
"Action will be decisive and it will be right across the country."
