Six hospitals in the east of Ireland are treating more than half of the country's critical coronavirus patients.
HSE data shows that 130 people were fighting the virus in Intensive Care Units as of 6.30pm on Wednesday.
St James's and St Vincent's hospitals in Dublin were both treating 13 serious cases at the time.
While there were 12 patients in critical care in both the Mater and Tallaght hospitals.
Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda is the worst-hit ICU outside of the capital, with nine cases being treated there - the same amount as Beaumont Hospital.
Connolly Hospital has eight critical cases, University Hospital Limerick has six, with every other hospital in Ireland treating five or less.
There were also a further six suspected Covid-19 cases in ICU in Limerick on Wednesday night.
The overall figure of cases in ICU was down 30 from its peak on April 9, when 160 were in critical care.
The number of suspected cases is down to 27, from its peak of 42 on April 17.
It comes as a further 49 patients have died from coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland.
The death toll here now stands at 769.
While another 631 people have tested positive for Covid-19.
A total of 16,671 cases of the killer bug have now been confirmed in Ireland.
Dr Tony Holohan made the announcement at the Department of Health on Wednesday evening.
The Chief Medical Officer added that his department is currently looking into their testing protocols.
He said: "Testing is a key element to Ireland's response to Covid-19.
"NPHET has consistently highlighted the importance of testing so that we can track the spread of the disease, reduce and contain its spread.
"As part of understanding the testing landscape, NPHET requested that HIQA undertake a Health Technology Assessment of alternative diagnostic methods for detecting Covid-19."
