A total of 646 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while 10 further deaths have been confirmed.
Four deaths occurred in March, one in February, one in January and four are under investigation.
It brings the number of infections here to 225,820 since the pandemic began.
Dublin was once again the hardest-hit county, with 243 further cases reported.
Meanwhile there was 80 in Kildare, 45 in Meath, 35 in Galway, 34 in Offaly and the remaining 209 cases are spread across 20 other counties
The latest figures were released by the Department of Health.
Officials confirmed that the median age of those who died was 67 years and the age range was 41 - 83 years.
As of 8am today, 344 Covid-19 patients are in hospital, of which 87 are in ICU. There has been 16 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
It comes after it emerged that some lockdown measures, such as an extension of the 5km rule and the return of click and collect services, could resume next month.
This week, we got a number of hints and updates from the Government as well as NPHET officials.
Here's what we know could be changing next month:
No haircuts until May
Starting off with one which affects the majority of the country.
There was outcry after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar signalled that the Government would not be allowing barbers and hairdressers to reopen until May.
He insisted that those in power were still adopting a slow approach to reopening.
"You'd be talking May at the earliest. I don't want to be accused of raising false hopes," he said.
"I think Professor Philip Nolan described it very well that it will be outdoor things that are open before indoor things.
Mr Varadkar added the likes of shops and personal services such as hairdressers will be open before hospitality.
Outdoor sports 'open for consideration'
However, Mr Varadkar hinted outdoor sports training was one of the things that is "open for consideration" from April 5.
He said: "We'd love to allow people to meet up outdoors and particularly do some training outdoors but there might have to be rules around the level of contact.
''There were six other suggestions of things that could be eased last night from golf to church services.''
'Matter of weeks' before we can do things
One of the biggest rules that is causing annoyance s the 5km travel limit - but NPHET member Professor Philip Nolan hinted during the week that there could be changes which mean we can 'do more things'.
''We've seen this before where quite understandably, in a long period of restrictions, you see a level of slippage in the population.'' Professor Nolan said.
''We get tired, lonely and we find it difficult.
''People mix a little bit more and when that happens, we pull back a little bit and we're back to suppressing the virus.
''That's our fundamental message now and we're pleading with the public to continue their extraordinary work in keeping the disease suppressed.
''In the grand scheme of things, it is a matter of weeks before we can begin to do more things because of the progressive protection of vaccination."'
"A better position" ahead of April 5 because of public - Taoiseach
The Taoiseach hailed the work of public and the impact of the reducing case numbers.
The vaccine rollout programme led the Taoiseach to say that the Government will definitely be in a better position to make a decision on April 5
"The good news its having an impact. And the impact can be seen on reducing numbers [of cases], reducing hospitalisations and reducing the numbers in intensive care.
"As we roll out the vaccine programme the evidence now is that the vaccine is having a good impact in terms of reducing mortality and severe illness."
Mr Martin said that a number of areas are being examined in the coming weeks regarding lifting restrictions, including rules around outdoors sports, but said that the government will be better placed to make a call before the lockdown is due to expire on April 5
He said: "We'll take advice from NPHET at that stage and it will depend on where the numbers are but we are making progress as a country.
"We will be in a better position before the 5th of April to make informed decisions."
