Every county bordering Northern Ireland now has a 14-day COVID-19 incidence rate of more than 100.

It comes as the Stormont executive there holds an emergency meeting to discuss potential restrictions.

Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan have the three highest 14-day incidence rates in the country - while Leitrim and Louth both now have a rate of more than 100.

Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases by county notified in Ireland from 28/09/2020 to midnight 11/10/2020. Source: HPSC

Likewise, each country which borders those five both have similar rates.

It has been considered by Cabinet to move the border counties to level four if a six-week lockdown is imposed in Northern Ireland.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the Government will not be speculating about will be happening in the North.

Cumulative incidence rates of confirmed cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population, by county, notified
in Ireland between 28/09/2020 and midnight 11/10/2020. Source: HPSC

"We'd a very positive meeting - one of these so-called quads - yesterday evening.

"Minister Coveney, myself, the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and Secretary of State.

"So the situation in the North is very serious, obviously, their growth rate is currently several times higher than ours.

"We're watching the situation very carefully".

Daily number and cumulative number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 5-day moving average, by notification date (n=7,988). Source: HPSC

The number of people in Irish hospitals with COVID-19 has risen to 240 - a more than 40 percent rise on last Tuesday's total.

While in ICU there are 32 patients with the disease.

Main image: Cumulative incidence rates of confirmed cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population, by county, notified in Ireland between 28/09/2020 and midnight 11/10/2020. Source: HPSC