Ireland has recorded another 6,888 cases of Covid-19 as infection rates continue to soar.
Tragically, eight further people have passed away after fighting the deadly virus, the Department of Health has confirmed.
The latest figures were released in a statement by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Sunday evening.
It brings the total number of cases diagnosed in Ireland to 147,613, while the death toll now stands at 2,344.
Dublin again had the highest number of infections at 2,088, followed by Cork (862), Limerick (469) and Wexford (405).
Of those diagnosed, 3,595 were women and 3,252 were men, while the average age was 38.
As of 2pm on Sunday, 1,452 patients were in hospital, while 125 were in intensive care.
It comes after HSE chief Paul Reid warned that our health system is under "increasing strain".
Mr Reid explained that the best support the public can now give to health workers is to avoid getting sick with Covid-19.
Speaking earlier, he said: "There's now 1,421 people in hospital with Covid19 (+136 today) & 120 in ICU.
"Our health system is under increasing strain. The best support we can all now give, is to avoid getting sick with Covid.
"This will help to get us out the other side of this."
The number of people hospitalised due to the virus has more than quadrupled in the past two weeks, as 321 people were in hospital with the virus on December 27.
There were 136 additional admissions to hospitals in the past 24 hours.
For all the latest Covid-19 information, follow our dedicated LIVE BLOG.
