A further 28 people have died and 500 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland.
It's the highest number of new cases confirmed so far.
The latest figures bring the death toll to 263 and the total number of cases of Covid-19 in the Republic to 6,574.
Out of the deaths reported at a Department of Health briefing on Thursday evening, 15 were women and 13 were men.
There were 22 deaths in the east, two in the north west, two in the south and two in the west.
The median age of the deceased was 84.
19 of those who passed away had underlying health conditions.
On Friday the National Public Health Emergency Team will meet again to discuss what is next for the country with an extension of current restrictions likely.
Ireland could face rolling lockdowns until a vaccine for coronavirus is found, the Chief Medical Officer warned on Wednesday.
Dr Tony Holohan claimed that even when restrictions on movement are lifted they may need to be re-introduced quickly if the disease surges again.
He said: “I think we will be living with this virus for some time. We have flattened the wave significantly.
“It was at 33% at the very start, it has dropped in terms of its growth rate to single figures.”
While the Health Minister admitted Ireland will eventually have to move onto a "different terrain" after the current restrictions have been in place for months.
Simon Harris told Virgin Media News: "What's highly likely tomorrow is that the National Public Health Emergency Team will recommend that we continue with the very strict restrictions... I expect that to be a period of weeks."
