Ireland has seen a major spike in new infections with 970 cases confirmed this evening, while 13 more people have died.
It brings the total number of infections here to 81,228 since the pandemic began.
The latest figures were announced by the Department of Health this evening.
Dublin was once again the hardest-hit area in the country with 348 new cases.
Meanwhile there was 60 in Limerick, 59 in Cork, 59 in Wexford, 55 in Louth and the remaining 389 cases are spread across 20 other counties.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “The current trajectory of the disease in the community is of grave concern. In the last seven days to midnight Monday, we have reported 4,478 cases, an increase of more than 110% over the preceding week.
"In the last 5 days, we have seen extraordinary growth in the incidence of the virus across the country, significantly increasing the level of risk associated with the kind of inter-generational mixing that is normally experienced over the Christmas holidays.
"To protect ourselves, our families and our vulnerable loved ones in particular, further economic and social restrictions will begin to be introduced from Christmas Eve. It is up to each one of us to rethink our plans for this Christmas period, especially when it comes to visiting older or more medically vulnerable family members and friends.
“With the authorisation of the first COVID-19 vaccine by the European Commission yesterday, our national vaccine programme can begin in the very near future and this gives us cause for hope. However, widespread vaccination of the population will take time, so we need to continue to adhere to the public health advice on hand washing, keeping 2m distance, wearing face coverings where appropriate, covering our coughs and reducing our social contacts for the duration of the Level 5 restrictions. By working together we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard our schools and our hospitals.”
It comes after Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said that lockdown restrictions will likely last for the first two months of the year.
The Fine Gael leader says we should operate on the basis that the current restrictions will be in place for the first two months of 2021.
This is despite the fact that the Government will reassess the situation on January 12th.
Mr Varadkar said the virus has spread very rapidly in recent weeks, so doesn't rule out a more positive update come January.
But he says the safest thing to do is to assume we'll be in lockdown for two months.
Varadkar says the goal now has to be to "delay" the spread of the virus – even if it may not be possible to get the R number below 1.
This is in the context of a new strain of the virus that the Government fears could already have hit our shores.
"On this current trajectory, it's likely that we'll exceed 1k cases a day before Xmas – and 2k before New Year's", the Tanaiste said.
He added "it may be necessary" to close non-essential retailers if there are issues around the sales.
He says the Government is relying on shops to help avoid large gatherings for sales in the next week.
