Exact locations of 264 new COVID cases with concerns…

Exact locations of 264 new COVID cases with concerns for particular counties

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of 2 additional deaths related to COVID-19. Today's announcement means that there has been a total of 2,126 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland this year.

Elsewhere, 264 new cases of the disease were reported in Ireland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 76,449.

In terms of the locations for the latest cases, there have been 79 in Dublin and 24 in Donegal. Elsewhere, Kerry (19), Limerick (18), Kildare and Wexford (14 each) showed high numbers.

Elsewhere, the remaining 96 cases are spread across 16 other counties.

During today's press conference, Doctor Ronan Glynn was asked why particular counties - in this case, Kilkenny - are showing a worrying increase in cases when compared to other counties.

Dr Ronan Glynn, (Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

Leitrim, Clare, Roscommon, and Monaghan all reported 0 new cases today.

"Different counties have different challenges. We're still seeing outbreaks in workplaces across a range of different settings but there isn't one specific factor. We've been clear that we have a number of outbreaks in acute hospitals at the moment and obviously other health care settings have been a challenge over recent weeks.

"There isn't one fact that's common to all the counties. However, the one fact that is common to all counties is people's individual behaviour. Regardless of where you live or what Nphet recommends on Thursday, the reality is that people need to do individual risk assessments over the days to come and make sure they're keeping themselves and their families as safe as possible as we head into the Christmas period," he said.

Of the cases notified today;