There have been 13 new COVID-19 related deaths and 970 further cases in Ireland.
There is now a total of 81,228 confirmed cases and 2,171 COVID-19 related deaths here.
This includes the denotification of nine cases.
Of the cases notified on Tuesday:
- 470 are men /494 are women
- 64% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 37-years-old
Some 348 cases are in Dublin, 60 in Limerick, 59 in Cork, 59 in Wexford and 55 in Louth.
The remaining 389 cases are spread across 20 other counties.
As of 2.00pm 238 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised - of which 28 are in ICU.
There have been 23 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: "The current trajectory of the disease in the community is of grave concern.
"In the last seven days to midnight Monday, we have reported 4,478 cases - an increase of more than 110% over the preceding week.
"In the last five days, we have seen extraordinary growth in the incidence of the virus across the country, significantly increasing the level of risk associated with the kind of inter-generational mixing that is normally experienced over the Christmas holidays.
"To protect ourselves, our families and our vulnerable loved ones in particular, further economic and social restrictions will begin to be introduced from Christmas Eve.
"It is up to each one of us to rethink our plans for this Christmas period, especially when it comes to visiting older or more medically vulnerable family members and friends."
He also said while a roll-out of a vaccination programme here before New Year's Day is welcome, this will take time.
"Widespread vaccination of the population will take time, so we need to continue to adhere to the public health advice on hand washing, keeping two metre distance, wearing face coverings where appropriate, covering our coughs and reducing our social contacts for the duration of the level five restrictions."
While the country is set to move to level five, there will be some changes to the restrictions.
Non-essential retail can remain open, but has been asked to defer January sales.
Meanwhile Donegal remains the county with the highest 14-day incidence rate 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 December 2020) (incidence rate based on Census 2016 county population). Source: Department of HealthIt stands at a rate of 290.8, as against a national average of 138.2.
Louth (273.1), Wexford (237.8), Kilkenny (236.8) and Monaghan (213.4) make up the top five.
Leitrim has the lowest 14-day rate, at just 28.1.
