There have been 47 more deaths related to COVID-19 and 1,466 new cases reported here on Thursday.

Forty-six of these deaths happened in January.

The median age of those who died is 85, with the age range between 55 and 99 years.

Of the cases notified on Thursday:

• 697 are men/764 are women
• 55% are aged under 45
• The median age is 41

Some 472 cases are in Dublin, 106 in Galway, 103 in Cork, 77 in Waterford and 70 in Limerick.

The remaining 638 are spread across all other counties.

As of 2.00pm, 1,567 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised - of which 216 are in ICU.

There have 69 additional hospitalisations in the last 24 hours.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said: "Incidence is falling but remains high. It is positive to see numbers of people hospitalised reducing and a stabilisation of numbers in ICU.

"However, we are continuing to experience high mortality with 878 deaths so far in January.

"I am concerned about the high incidence we are seeing in long-term care settings and vulnerable groups.

"Our efforts to stay home and break transmission of the disease will save lives. Please continue to follow the public health advice and support each other to keep going."

'200 cases per day by the end of February'

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: "Incidence is falling and by working collectively to reduce contacts, we have achieved suppression of transmission with the R number estimated at 0.4-0.7.

"We are maintaining an extraordinary effort but still we have a long way to go. We must maintain full suppression for several weeks if we are to achieve strategic options for the future.

"If we keep this up, we would be down to 200-400 cases per day by the end of February."

And Dr Lorraine Doherty, National Clinical Director Health Protection HSE, added: "It only takes one event to spark a chain of transmission of COVID-19 that can spread through a community.

"We have seen examples of outbreaks in a workplace that has led to multiple outbreaks in families and other work settings, and these ultimately lead to a higher incidence in the community and threatens the most vulnerable to COVID-19. Every action an individual takes matters."

Close contact testing

It comes as testing of close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case will resume on Friday.

The practice has been on hold since the end of last year due to pressure on the system.

Since then, close contacts have received a text alerting them of their status with advice to stay at home.

The head of the HSE, Paul Reid, earlier confirmed it will be re-instated following the recent sustained drop in cases.

He said: "As and from tomorrow 29th January, the programme will reinstate its calling of close contacts and scheduling of appointments.

"So from tomorrow, close contacts of a confirmed case will be referred to a COVID-19 test centre for a test on day five."