Dr Ronan Glynn has warned that five counties are being "closely" watched over a higher level of coronavirus cases as the country reopens.
Ireland's strict lockdown has been significantly eased today with a number of new measures including inter-county travel and the return of personal services and non-essential retail.
And while the country has made significant progress in fighting back against a wave of Covid-19 infections, health experts have warned that some areas are seeing noticeably higher rates of infection that others.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that Donegal, Kildare, Dublin, Roscommon and Cavan are all being monitored as restrictions are lifted.
He told reporters on Friday: "Just looking at this meeting last week we highlighted concerns over the incidence and the overall disease profile in Donegal, but you can see across vast parts of the country now incidences under 100 per 100,000.
"But there are a number of counties that, for a variety of different reasons, have a higher disease incidence, and we will be monitoring those closely.
"In particular Kildare, Dublin, Roscommon and we've seen outbreaks in Cavan as well in recent days, so we will be monitoring those particularly closely.
"But I suppose it highlights as we move into the easing of measures that it becomes all the more important for individuals across the country to understand what the disease profile is in their area, and take the appropriate measures to protect themselves in light of that profile."
And the latest available incidence rates of confirmed cases per 100,000 population show that Donegal remains the hardest-hit area in the country, with a rate of 268.2 more than double the national average of 129.7.
Kildare is next at 260.7, followed by Westmeath on 182.1.
Here are the top six counties by incidence rate:
Donegal - 268.2
Kildare - 260.7
Westmeath - 205.0
Dublin - 182.1
Meath - 152.8
Cavan - 147.0
