Dr Tony Holohan has said that anyone with flu-like symptoms should self-isolate as it is "unlikely to be anything other than Covid".
The Chief Medical Officer's grim message came as Ireland recorded a staggering 6,110 new cases this evening.
It brings the total number of infections here to 107,997 since the outbreak began.
The latest figures were announced by the Department of Health this evening.
Of today's new cases, 3,655 were in Dublin, while there was 323 in Kildare, 291 in Cork, 234 in Limerick, 137 in Louth and the remaining 1,470 cases are spread across all other counties.
And Dr Holohan has now said that with the positivity rate of tests at such a high level, anyone suffering flu-like symptoms should "accept" they likely have Covid-19.
The CMO told tonight's briefing: "If you have symptoms that are flu-like symptoms now, you might as well accept this is Covid, the positivity rate is approaching 25%.
"If you have these symptoms it's unlikely to be anything other than Covid at this point in time.
"If you have those symptoms and you are waiting for your test result you must self-isolate. And that means staying in your bedroom away from other people in your house and not coming into contact with other people.
"If you live with somebody in that category, who has symptoms or has a positive test, you are a close contact. And you must restrict your movements, and that means not going to work and not going outside except for essential circumstances."
Here is a full county-by-county breakdown of today's cases:
Monaghan - 51
Louth - 137
Limerick - 234
Donegal - 52
Dublin - 3,655
Sligo - 33
Cavan - 61
Mayo - 111
Kilkenny - 84
Meath - 122
Kerry - 129
Wexford - 76
Laois - 80
Clare - 55
Carlow - 51
Longford - 30
Offaly - 68
Cork - 291
Galway - 116
Waterford - 106
Kildare - 323
Roscommon - 24
Westmeath - 46
Leitrim - 12
Tipperary - 44
Wicklow - 119
