There have been 33 more coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland.
Thirty deaths were in the east and three were in the west of the country.
This included 14 women and 19 men.
The median age of these reported deaths is 82 - while 25 people were reported as having underlying health conditions.
There have now been 320 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
As of Saturday, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has been notified of the following new cases:
- An additional 553 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by Irish laboratories
- An additional 286 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by a laboratory in Germany
With the latest German figures included, there are now a total of 8,928 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
The HSE says it is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.
Data from the HPSC, as of midnight on Thursday and including German results, reveals:
- 45% are men and 54% are women, with 356 clusters involving 1,626 cases
- The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
- 1,718 cases (22%) have been hospitalised
- Of those hospitalised, 253 cases have been admitted to ICU
- 2,141 cases are associated with healthcare workers
Dublin has the highest number of cases at 4,156 (53% of all cases) - followed by Cork with 581 cases (8%).
Of those for whom transmission status is known community transmission accounts for 66%, close contact was 26% and travel abroad accounts for 8%
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said: "Today’s figure of 553 represents the largest number of new cases reported in a single day since the start of the outbreak.
"This should remind everyone of the importance of hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and physical distancing. These are the actions to suppress this infection. We need to continue with them."
Meanwhile 15 more people have died in Northern Ireland from the virus, while 128 more people there tested positive.
It brings the total death toll north of the border to 107, with a total of 1,717 cases.
Elsewhere England has recorded 823 new coronavirus deaths, bringing the total number of deaths there to 8,937.
And Scotland announced it had recorded 47 new coronavirus deaths - taking the total there to 542.
It comes as the current restrictions here, due to expire on Sunday, are being extended to May 5th.
These include the closure of non-essential businesses and everyone being asked to stay at home wherever possible.
On Friday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said we "have to keep going" - and confirmed the Government accepted the latest recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
Mr Varadkar said: "What we're doing is difficult, but it is making a difference.
"We need to persevere, and we need to maintain our discipline and resolve."
While Health Minister Simon Harris said the Garda enforcement powers, brought in to help slow the spread of COVID-19, will continue for as long as restrictions are in place.
Minister Harris noted that the Irish people are 'flattening the curve' of coronavirus cases here, but the number of infections needs to be reduced further.
He added: "Just a couple of weeks ago, a person who got the virus typically infected about four others.
"First, we as a people - all of us together - got that down to two and a half, and last night we learned from our scientific experts that it's now approaching one. But we need to get it lower again."
