A total of 378 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while one further death has been confirmed.
It brings the total number of infections here to 67,903 since the pandemic began.
The latest figures were announced by the Department of Health this evening.
Dublin is once again the area with the highest number of new cases, with 124.
This is followed by Donegal with 34, Louth with 23, and Cork and Limerick with 19 each.
The remaining 159 cases are spread across 20 other counties.
Speaking on today's figures, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has issued a warning over a "worrying development" in our battle with the virus.
He said: "The average daily 5 day case count is rising and is now over 400 per day. This is a worrying development which has persisted for the last few days. We are seeing a number of things which concern us. There are examples of small numbers of people congregating for social purposes and simply ignoring the important public health messages. They are putting our collective progress at risk.
“We are also seeing number of outbreaks across the country. These include outbreaks in association with funerals. We understand that this is a difficult time for families but it is really important that we do everything we can to avoid the circumstances which promote transmission of the virus.
“There have also been outbreaks associated with workplace settings. As we head into a new working week, we need stay at home other than for essential reasons and for personal exercise within 5km. Anyone who can work from home, should work from home.”
It comes after industry chiefs warned Ireland’s pubs will stay shut over Christmas if they would have to close again in the New Year.
Vintners' Federation boss Padraig Cribben said it wouldn’t be worth bar owners opening for just a few days over the festive season.
He said: “There are costs starting up and closing down. Nobody has an interest in just two weeks at Christmas.”
The Government has yet to say whether boozers can reopen in the run up to December 25.
The target appears to be a move back to Level 3 restrictions at the start of next month, which would allow bars and restaurants to serve 15 people outdoors.
But vintners say it is not worth their while to open under those restrictions and they want a commitment on Level 2 trading guidelines instead.
Padraig Cribben, chief executive of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, told RTE Radio One: “This is not just about Christmas, I don’t think that any publican is really interested in opening for two weeks at Christmas and closing down again.
“Nobody has any interest (in that) at any time of the year, it’s not viable, it’s not practical.
“There has to be a plan into January and February.
“The business is such there are costs in starting up, there are costs in closing down.
“Nobody has an interest in just two weeks at Christmas.”
Ireland is more than half way through six weeks of level five restrictions imposed on October 22.
Mr Cribben said people in border counties are likely to go into the North for drinks if pubs there are open and they remain shut here.
Case numbers in the North are four times higher than the Republic, he said.
The Government has said it will share its reopening plan by the end of the month.
