A further 3,569 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Ireland.
Tragically, another 63 people have passed away as the number of Covid-19 deaths continues to spiral.
The figures were announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Wednesday.
Five of these deaths occurred in November, one of these deaths occurred in December, and the remaining 56 occurred in January.
While cases are already starting to drop following the introduction of Level Five restrictions across the country, deaths have been worryingly high.
And the country is facing unprecedented levels of pressure on our hospital system following the recent surge in infections.
Speaking this week Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned that Ireland could likely see high levels of Covid mortality in the coming weeks.
It comes as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said the situation in Irish hospitals is now a 'national emergency' as the union called for urgent government intervention.
Worrying scenes have been reported from doctors and nurses amid growing fears our hospitals could be at capacity within weeks as infection rates continue to spiral.
On Wednesday it emerged that healthcare staff identified as close contacts have been told to continue working if they are not showing any symptoms.
In a statement, the INMO said growth in Covid cases has put their frontline members under “unprecedented” pressure.
INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha: “This is a national emergency. It should be treated as such.
"The public health service was not fit for purpose before the pandemic – it is now under a level of pressure not seen before.
