Public health chiefs have this evening reported another 788 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, as well as 17 new deaths.
The latest figures, announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), bring to 209,582 the total number of cases recorded in Ireland since the pandemic began last spring.
Tragically, a total of 3,948 people have now lost their lives as a result of the deadly virus.
Of today's cases, 315 are in Dublin, 61 are in Galway, 59 are in Meath, 42 are in Louth, 33 are in Kildare and the remaining 278 cases are spread across the other 21 counties.
As of 8am today, there were 899 Covid-19 patients in hospitals, of which 160 are in ICU. There have been 34 more hospitalisations in the last 24 hours.
Today, Stephen Donnelly insisted it's too early to say when Level Five restrictions might be eased, as case numbers remain stubbornly high.
The Health Minister added that the number of close contacts per case, as well as the percentage of positive cases notified in Dublin, is on the rise once again.
"Close contacts are going up again," he told RTE's This Week programme.
"Not by a lot, but they are going back up again.
"Positivity rates remain high, particularly among close contacts.
"The percentage of new cases coming from Dublin is rising."
Mr Donnelly said that given the worrying updates, "it's far too early" to be able to make a prediction on when restrictions might be lifted.
He also defended the decision not to use parish halls or hotels to administer the vaccine, arguing that the HSE and Irish Medical Organisation had made an operational decision on the matter.
The Irish Mirror previously reported that the hospitality sector is keen to lend a hand to the Government in the rollout of the miracle jab.
Noel Anderson, the incoming chair of the Licensed Vintners' Association, said the pubs and hotels had told the HSE: "We just want to help.
He added that hotels are "unbelievably well placed" to host vaccinations.
"They have car parking facilities, they've big ballrooms, they've big spaces. They're spread out all over the country, and are willing to help."
These spaces, he added, are "going to remain lying idle until we get a large percentage of the population vaccinated.
"So rather than just standing by and letting what’s happening happen, we’re saying: ‘Look, we want to be part of the solution here – rather than just pulling our hair out."
