Four counties saw a worrying increase in new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, new statistics show.
Health officials confirmed this evening that a total of 617 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while five further deaths have been confirmed.
It brings the total number of infections here to 40,703 since the pandemic began.
The latest figures were released by the Department of Health earlier on Friday.
And Dublin was once again the hardest-hit region in the country, with 123 new cases.
However more concerning trends are starting to emerge in Cork, which reported 107 further infections.
Similarly, Meath, with 42, Kerry, with 36, and Galway, with 35, also saw a noticeable spike in cases.
Health experts added that the remaining 274 cases are located across 21 counties.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that the latest statistics show the situation in Ireland "continues to deteriorate".
He said: “The profile of the disease continues to deteriorate. There have been an additional 32 hospitalisations and 8 ICU admissions in the past 24 hours. We are continuing to see a high number of daily cases.
“It is vital that we interrupt the transmission of the virus now.
“NPHET continues to monitor the situation however it is early, individual action that is needed to suppress the virus. Please follow public health advice and do your part to make an impact on the disease."
Of the cases notified today:
- 310 are men / 307 are women
- 73% are under 45 years of age
- 33% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
- 72 cases have been identified as community transmission
