There have been 84 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Republic, according to the Department of Health.
The latest figures bring the total amount of cases here to 30,164.
Three further deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, meaning the number of coronavirus-related deaths here stands at 1,781.
Of the latest cases, 66% concern people who are under 45 years of age.
Today's figures include 51 new cases in Dublin, six in Offaly, five in Kildare and 22 cases spread across cork, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wicklow.
30% of today's cases are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case while eight cases have been identified as community transmission.
The Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “We continue to see a concerning pattern of cases, particularly in Dublin.
"Transmission is diffuse across the county, is in all age groups and is mainly being driven by social interaction within and between households.”
R rate for Dublin 1.4
At this evening's briefing, it was revealed that the rate of the virus growing by 5% a day in Dublin.
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: “While the reproduction number for Ireland as a whole is close to 1.0, the reproduction number for Dublin alone is approximately 1.4.
"We are seeing increasing case numbers in Dublin, growing close to 5% per day.
"If this were to continue, the number of cases would double every 14 days.
"Given the size of Dublin’s population it is essential we prevent any further spread now – by limiting our social contacts and taking precautions during any essential contacts.
Professor Nolan also expressed his concern about the rising number of cases among older people.
He said that last week, there had been a rise in the reported incidence of cases among the 75 to 84 age category, and this week, there was also an increase in the 84+ age group.
He added: "Given the vulnerability of that population to this disease, the fact that it has begun to spread from a younger population into the older population is a source of very considerable concern to us."
'Think through your social plans'
There were 47 people in hospital today with COVID-19, including six in ICU.
Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE, said: “The greatest risk of transmission to school children is in the home setting.
"International experience reveals that reopening of schools has not been associated with significantly increasing community transmission.
"Instead, it is transmission of the virus within communities that poses the greatest threat to schools. Again, we urge all households to think through their social plans.
"To keep within the 6 indoor/ 15 outdoor person gathering limits and apply physical distancing in all settings.”
Earlier, a public health expert warned that localised lockdowns in Dublin and Limerick are not the right response to the rise in COVID-19 cases.
On Breakfast Briefing with Shane Beatty this morning, DCU Public Health Professor Anthony Staines said lockdowns in Limerick and Dublin would not be effective.
