There have been a further 1,558 COVID-19 cases in Ireland.
Latest available figures also show there are 262 people are in hospital with the virus - up 14 in the past 24 hours.
While 51 of these are in ICU - an increase of three over the same period.
The five-day moving average has dropped slightly to 1,854.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, says the virus has regained a foothold.
"Though we have growing levels of vaccination across the population, there is now a very high level of disease circulating in the community.
"The Delta variant has enabled COVID-19 to regain a foothold in Ireland, which puts us all at risk as social contacts and mobility increase.
"We are closely monitoring the spread of the virus with some concern.
"Vaccines will help us turn the tide, but we are not there yet.
"We need to give vaccines the time and space to build up levels of protection across all demographics so that we can continue to progress the re-opening of all sectors of society and our economy.
"Please get vaccinated as soon as a vaccine is offered to you.
"It is also very important that people receive their second dose of vaccine as soon as you are called to do so.
"You will be fully protected one or two weeks after your second dose, depending on which vaccine you have received."
Dr Holohan adds that people need to be cautious, especially as the new school year approaches.
"I am asking people to be cautious and to closely follow public health advice over the coming weeks, in particular in the run up to schools re-opening in September.
"We all know what this means, and, more importantly, we know that by following the public health advice we can drive down incidence of COVID-19 in our communities.
"If you have any symptoms that indicate that you may have COVID-19 like cough, fever, headache, sore throat and blocked or runny nose isolate and get a test immediately.
"Make plans to socialise safely and risk assess as you go, meet up with others outdoors if possible, try to meet up in small groups and avoid crowds. If you do not feel safe, then leave.
"Please continue to wear a mask where appropriate, wash your hands, manage your contacts and maintain your social distance."
'Very different' next year
He was speaking as latest figures show 81% of eligible people in Ireland are now fully vaccinated - and 90% are partially vaccinated.
While Professor Kingston Mills says this time next year things should look "very different" for Ireland in relation to the coronavirus.
He earlier told Moncrieff: "Most developed countries that have bought into vaccines, and it has to be said, Ireland is one of the best countries in the world in terms of the buy-in to the vaccines.
"The uptake amongst all the age groups above 35 has been phenomenal.
"And hopefully that will be reflected in the younger age groups eventually when they get through all the people remaining to be vaccinated".
But he says this could be delayed if "we have a very difficult variant that might emerge."
In terms of why COVID cases are rising, despite increased vaccinations, he explains: "What has happened is... the restriction rate have also been eased significantly - a lot more people are meeting up.
"And of course the younger population, a lot of them are still not vaccinated, and that's where the dominant number of cases are now.
"In the 12 to 15-year-olds, for example, there have been over 3,500 cases in the last two weeks.
"So there's a significant number of cases in the young population, and not as many now in the older fully vaccinated population".
