A further 1,066 cases of Covid have been registered across Ireland today by the Department of Health.
Of these, a total of 56 were in Co Donegal.
The total number of cases in Ireland now stands at 54,476 while a further 3 people have also sadly died today as a result of the virus.
The number of people being treated in intensive care units across the country is 37, up 3 from yesterday.
Of today’s cases, 244 are in Dublin, 104 are in Galway, 98 are in Cork, 92 are in Meath – and the rest are spread across all other counties.
The national 14-day incidence rate has exceeded 300 per 100,000 of the population for the first time.
The chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Professor Philip Nolan said there has been a considerable increase in all indicators of the disease over the past 7 days.
He said there was an average of 23 people admitted to hospital each day.
There has now been a total of 54.476 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that the disease now poses a “significant risk” with the “serious levels” of Covid in our country.
Dr Holohan said: “We are now in Level 5 because the disease is at very serious levels in our country and posing a significant risk to public health.
“We all need to stay at home, except for essential work and exceptional circumstances.
“If you are a confirmed case self isolate at home, if you are a close contact of a confirmed case restrict your movements at home, if you are experiencing symptoms or believe you are a close contact – restrict your movements and contact your GP.”