There have been 67 new confirmed coronavirus cases announced this evening taking the total to 26,995.

No new deaths related to the virus have been reported, meaning the death toll remains at 1,774.

One previously confirmed cases has been denotified.

Meanwhile, there has been a large jump in cases in the North where 74 new cases were reported this afternoon, taking the total there to 6,299.

Health officials said 16 of the new cases in the Republic were transmitted in the community and 38 are linked to previous outbreaks or confirmed cases.

Some 70% of the new patients are under the age of 45.

Dublin accounts for 18 of the new cases with 17 in Kildare, nine in Clare, five in Limerick with the rest detected in Carlow, Cork, Donegal, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford, Wicklow.

The acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said everyone in the country has a responsibility to do everything possible to prevent a return to where we were in March and April.

“We have seen cases rising all across the country this week,” he said.

“We have also seen an increase in the average number of contacts for confirmed cases up to six. It is crucial to keep your social contacts low to limit the spread of this disease.”

“We all have a responsibility to stop this. Social distancing applies to all age groups – wherever you are this weekend, keep your distance.”

Over 41,000 COVID-19 tests have been carried out in the past week with 1.4% coming back positive.

That is a slight drop on the 1.7% rate that had been reported in recent days.

There are currently 11 confirmed cases in Irish hospitals with eight people in intensive care.