Several counties across the country are contending with high incidence rates of Covid-19 as the Delta variant of the virus continues to spread.
The incidence rate of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in Ireland over the past fortnight stands at 526.
There are currently eight counties with rates above this figure, but three areas are struggling more than others to contain the surge of the virus.
The worst-hit regions are Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal, with all three reporting incidence rates above 1,000 per 100,000 of the population over the last fortnight.
New data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows the areas which recorded the highest incidence rates between August 12 and August 18.
The counties with the highest incidence rate is Monaghan (1,321), followed by Donegal (1,045) and Cavan (1,037).
Other counties with high rates are Roscommon (790), Mayo (677), Galway (617) and Louth (608).
The areas with 14-day incidence rates of coronavirus exceeding 500 are Sligo (598), Dublin (517), Kerry (505), and Limerick (500).
These are followed by Meath (486 per 100,000), Westmeath (480), Carlow (434), Offaly (432), Laois (404), Tipperary (392), Wicklow (385), Leitrim (378), Wexford (379) and Waterford (375).
The counties with the lowest incidence rates of the virus over the past fortnight are: Kilkenny (272), Clare (307), Cork (348), Longford (374) and Kildare (365).
It comes as the Chief Medical Officer said Ireland is experiencing "a rapid rise" in the incidence of coronavirus nationwide.
Dr Tony Holohan warned on Friday that the high number of cases in recent days "is a concerning indication of the level of Covid-19 circulating in our communities".
There were 2,098 new infections confirmed by NPHET on Friday, with 251 people now in hospital.
The Chief Medical Officer issued a warning over the figures as they represented the second time this week that daily case numbers had exceeded 2,000.
He said: “For the second time in a week, we are reporting over 2,000 cases. We haven’t seen this number of cases since late January 2021.
"This is a concerning indication of the level of Covid-19 circulating in our communities."
He also urged people to avail of their coronavirus vaccine as the inoculation can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the disease or passing it on to others.
Dr Holohan said: "Covid-19 vaccines are very effective against severe illness from Covid-19 and are protecting people from needing care in hospital and ICU.
"While it is possible for fully vaccinated individuals to become infected with Covid-19 and pass the virus on to others, vaccines also remain effective in significantly reducing this risk. That is why it is vital for as many people as possible to come forward for vaccination against this disease.
"We must all remain vigilant to the risk of contracting Covid-19. To protect everyone and to safeguard the progress we have made, please follow the public health advice to limit transmission of Covid-19.
