Some 6,110 new confirmed cases of coronavirus have been announced this evening.

Health officials have also announced six further virus-related deaths.

It takes the death toll in the Republic to 2,265 and the total number of cases here to 107,997.

It is another new record high for the country. The previous high was the 4,962 new cases reported yesterday - by far the highest daily amount Ireland had seen up to then.

The national 14-day incidence rate of the virus in Ireland now stands at 582.8 per 100,000 people.

The seven-day incidence is 443.3 and the five-day moving average is 3,568.

This afternoon, there were 776 COVID-19 patients in Irish hospitals, with 70 people in intensive care.

10/12/2020 Covid-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus), Ireland. Day 260 since start of lockdown. Day 10 of phased returned to nationwide Level 3 restrictions. 15 deaths, 310 new cases. Pictured is Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group at the media briefing in the Department of Health tonight. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Professor Philip Nolan warned that Ireland could have 1,500-2,000 COVID-19 patients in hospital by mid-January, “if we do not act to radically reduce transmission and incidence.”

He said the same models raise the possibility 200 - 400 people could be in intensive care.

“It will take all of us, adopting the public health measures of staying home and reducing contacts, to suppress current levels of disease,” he said.

Ireland positivity rate over the past 14-days, 04-01-2021. Image: Department of Health

One-quarter of the 20,571 tests processed yesterday came back positive – up from just over 5% of 13,216 carried out in the days before Christmas.

The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan called on community leaders and organisations to support those around them to “keep to the spirit of public health advice.”

“We must restrict our movements,” he said. “We have to limit the people we interact with outside of our households if we are to suppress the virus and sustain our essential services.”

He said people who are vulnerable to the virus now need to “stay at home unless absolutely essential.”

He noted that the vulnerable includes: Older persons and people with pre-existing medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer.

The 14-day coronavirus rate across Ireland, 04-01-2021. Image: Department of Health

Monaghan has the highest 14-day rate at 1,119.1 per 100,000 people.

Louth is in second with 1,031.2, with Limerick in third at 979, Donegal in fourth at 832.3 and Dublin in fifth with 691.9.

Of the cases announced today, some 3,655 are in Dublin, with 323 in Kildare, 291 in Cork, 234 in Limerick, 137 in Louth and the remaining 1,470 spread across all other counties.

Non-urgent care

It comes after the HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid confirmed the health service would be cutting back on non-urgent care in hospitals amid the “frightening” increase in the virus.

He also defended the decision to stop testing close contacts of confirmed cases noting that there is a point where "any system gets overwhelmed."

In a statement this evening, the HSE National Director of Acute Operations Liam Woods confirmed that hospitals would be cutting back on non-essential services to “cope with increasing COVID-19 admissions.”

“This will be subject to ongoing review,” he said. “In the event of emergency, attend an Emergency Department as usual and if you have any concerns regarding your health, COVID or non COVID related, always contact your GP in the first instance.”

Vaccination programme

Meanwhile, the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expressed hope that Ireland will be able to safely sustain higher levels of coronavirus in the community when the most vulnerable people are vaccinated.

This evening, the Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Professor Karina Butler said the vaccine programme has been “accelerated this week.”

“As we continue to provide vaccines across the population, we urge anyone with concerns or questions to contact their GP, pharmacist or healthcare service provider for factual and reliable information.

“The HSE.ie website also provides reliable information around vaccine efficacy and safety.”