There have been 1,066 further cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.
Latest figures also show that three more deaths have been reported.
There has been a total of 1,871 deaths and 54,476 cases here.
Of the cases reported on Thursday:
- 536 are men/528 are women
- 67% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 32
Some 244 of the cases are in Dublin, 104 in Galway, 98 in Cork and 92 in Meath.
The remaining 528 cases are spread across all remaining counties.
As of 2.00pm on Thursday, 313 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised - of which 37 are in an ICU.
There have been 20 additional hospitalisations in the last 24 hours.
While Cavan remains the county with the highest 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population.
It has a rate of 1,055.5, followed by Meath on 659.9, Westmeath at 417.9 and Monaghan on 404.0.
Tipperary has the lowest rate at 120.3 - the national average stands at 302.5.
In comparison, the lowest national 14-day incidence rate was on July 3rd when the rate was 2.98 cases per 100,000 population.
Today's cases, 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population and new cases in last 14 days (as of midnight 21 October 2020) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population). Source: HPSCDr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer said: "We are now in level five 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."
Risk of exposure 'now 100-times greater'
Dr Heather Burns, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: "The 14-day incidence was at three per 100,000 at the end of June, today it is 302 per 100,000 population.
"The risk of you being exposed to COVID-19 is now 100-times greater than it was four months ago. Please limit your risk by staying at home and following public health advice."
While Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, added: "The reproduction number is 1.3 -1.4 nationally.
"Our collective goal now is to suppress transmission of the virus and bring our case numbers to manageable levels.
"If we work hard together to get the reproduction number to 0.5, we should succeed in reducing cases to below 100 a day in six weeks time."
And Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer at the HSE, said: "Based on our experience, widespread community transmission results in spread to vulnerable groups in congregated settings.
"The single most effective measure to protect vulnerable groups, including nursing homes, is to reduce community transmission significantly. Every one of us has a role to play to achieve this."
