Ireland has recorded 2,427 new cases of Covid-19 as infection rates remain high nationwide.
As of 8am on Saturday, there were 449 patients in hospital, 93 of which were in intensive care units.
The latest figures were released in a statement by the National Public Health Emergency Team.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has said that "we don't want to go back" to lockdown as the country moves a step closer to normality.
Micheal Martin admitted that while it was difficult to predict when Ireland would go completely back to normal, he said he had better hopes for the New Year.
The news comes just hours after nightclubs reopened for the first time in 18 months, while bars and restaurants could resume serving until late.
"They are increasing (case numbers) not just in Ireland but in other countries, so it's very difficult to predict when we're actually going to return to the kind of normality we experienced before the pandemic," Mr Martin said.
"I always felt we had to get through this winter. We don't want to go back (to lockdown). I think the fact that we've 95% fully vaccinated, the fact that we're now rolling out the booster campaign...gives us a lot of protection.
"There are different phases of the pandemic and we're now in a new phase with an almost fully vaccinated population, boosters and so on.
"That means that the kind of things you can do in that phase are different prior to what we can do in this phase."
Speaking on Newstalk's Anton Savage Show, the Taoiseach said that those aged over 60 could expect a booster jab roughly six months after their second dose.
