A total of 465 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while 84 people are currently being treated in hospital.
30 of these patients are in the ICU.
The latest figures were announced at the Department of Health this afternoon.
Earlier today, Simon Harris said that local councils need to 'up their game' in preparing areas for outdoor gatherings saying 'finger wagging' wasn't the solution.
The Higher Education Minister was speaking following intense criticism for local authorities for their lack of preparation to handle large crowds of people gathering.
Crowds of people lined the streets of Dublin city last weekend but a focus being put on the idea of an outdoor summer, many have lashed out at the councils saying they have not provided adequate facilities.
Dr Tony Holohan sparked fierce debate over the weekend when he slammed the scenes on South William Street describing crowds out socialising as “shocking” and has said it was like All-Ireland day.
Minister Harris defended the Chief Medical Officer saying that local authorities need to do more to plan the reopening of the country.
Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland he said: "I think Dr Tony Holohan has just steered our country through a very difficult time and I've nothing but praise and gratitude for his work.
"On the broader issue I think our councils really need to up their game in this regard. In Dun Laoighaire Rathdown they seem to have done a very good job preparing, some [councils] haven't.
"I do think we're going to be at a different situation when the reopening of outdoor dining and outdoor pubs starts from Monday.
"I think what happened last weekend, and this is not in any way a judgement, we had really good weather we had lots of people who wanted to meet up and see people outdoors, they had been told outdoors was safer and they didn't have many places to go.
"And that caused congregation. So rather than finger-wagging, I think we have to look at how do we better prepare for that.
"How do local authorities better prepare and I do think as we see more places open now there will be more places for people to meet."
Elsewhere, publicans have called on the government to allow people to drink at bar counters once they reopen.
Tanáiste Leo Varadkar and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin held a meeting with representatives for pubs, restaurants and the tourism sector on Wednesday.
The Irish Mirror understands that publicans asked Leo Varadkar to allow people to drink at bars once indoor dining is permitted on July 5 as it’s “quite important for rural pubs."
Representatives from the event sector were also at the meeting who were “eager to get going” to which one source said both Ministers’ were “full of positivity.”
