Public health bosses have reported another 921 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, as well as 23 new deaths.
The figures were announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) this evening, and bring to 207,720 the total number of cases reported since the start of the pandemic.
There have now been a total of 3,865 deaths as a result of coronavirus.
Today's announcement comes amid ongoing speculation about the shape of Ireland's reopening over the coming months.
Professor Philip Nolan this morning said Ireland is six weeks away from wrestling case numbers down to the 100-a-day mark.
The chair of NPHET's epidemiological modelling group said it'll likely be the end of March before we start get get infection rates down to 100 daily.
Professor Nolan praised the public for an "extraordinary" response to the current set of restrictions, telling RTE's Morning Ireland we're on the right track.
Today, the Department of Health released a list of 18 countries now considered 'high risk' – with a slew of African countries now on a list that will now be hit with tougher travel restrictions.
The 18 countries are as follows: Angola, Austria, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Eswatini, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: “Under the current Level 5 restrictions nobody should be engaging in non-essential travel at this time.
"These stringent measures on people arriving to Ireland from 20 states are necessary in responding to the risks posed by variants of concern.
“People who arrive in Ireland must now complete a full mandatory 14-day period of self-quarantine if they have been in any of these states in the previous 14 days.
"The Government will shortly consider legislation that will require such passengers arriving here to complete this quarantine at a designated facility.”
