The Department of Health has today been notified of 4,764 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
As of 8am today, 598 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 126 are in ICU.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan said that the high number of cases is of serious concern.
He said: “Incidence of COVID-19 remains concerningly high, with 62,401 cases reported in the last 14 days.
"We need to continue to make every effort we can to drive down incidence of disease and break the chains of transmission.
"COVID-19 spreads when an infected person is in close proximity to other people.
"The best way we can stop COVID spreading to the people we meet is by meeting fewer people and avoiding crowds.
He urged people to remember that anyone they meet could be particularly vulnerable to the virus.
Dr Holohan said: "Be mindful of your contacts in the days after socialising, and especially consider anyone you meet who may be immunocompromised or vulnerable to COVID-19.
"If you experience symptoms isolate immediately and arrange a PCR test – not an antigen test.”
Meanwhile, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said he has "profound concern" for recipients of the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine after it emerged that protection wanes significantly after just three months.
Mr Varadkar told Today with Claire Byrne the Government have asked the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to give consideration to this group for booster shots.
He said: "Another group obviously that we've asked them to give particular consideration to is those who got the single dose Janssen vaccine.
"I have more than sympathy, I have profound concern for them - particularly those who aren't in the younger age group - because there's very strong evidence now that the immunity from that particular vaccine, not a surprise [because it is a] single dose vaccine, falls to as low as 20% in a few months."
The Fine Gael leader hopes NIAC will come back with a positive decision on giving Janssen recipients an MRNA jab soon.
He said: "If you take the studies in the round after a few months immunity wanes very quickly and I'd be be worried for them and I hope we will get a positive decision on giving them an MRNA dose quite soon."
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