The Chief Medical Officer has asked the public to do something "difficult" - follow the public health advice and isolate if you are showing symptoms of Covid 19.
Dr Tony Holohan was speaking after a further 3,893 Covid cases were reported by NPHET on Wednesday afternoon.
43 people have lost their lives in the last seven days to the deadly virus.
Dr Holohan said: “Approximately 1 in 7 adults in the last week have had flu-like, cold-like, or Covid-like symptoms.
"The most important action you can take if you experience any symptoms of COVID-19 is to self-isolate immediately. This means staying indoors and avoiding contact with other people, including, in so far as possible, those you live with.
"Arrange to take a PCR test, not an antigen test, and continue to self-isolate while you wait for your test and the results.
"I understand this is difficult, but in order to avoid passing COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses on to your friends, family or work colleagues, rapidly self-isolating as soon as symptoms begin is the most important thing you can do.
"It’s also important to remember you still need to isolate for as long as you're symptomatic, and until 48 hours after your symptoms have settled, even if your PCR did not detect COVID-19.”
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