A further 2,399 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Ireland today.
It's the highest number of daily cases reported since January.
The five-day moving average of new cases is now 1,890.
The number of patients in hospital with the virus has fallen slightly today to 472, compared to 484 yesterday.
Meanwhile, the number of patients in ICU has remained steady at 74.
Today’s figures come after the Government confirmed some restrictions will remain in place beyond this week.
Nightclubs will be able to reopen from this Friday – but vaccine certs will be needed to get in.
The use of vaccine certs for indoor events will also continue over the coming months, while the rollout of COVID vaccine boosters to everyone over the age of 60 will commence immediately.
In his letter to the Government yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said COVID-19 incidence in Ireland is “high and increasing” - leaving the future trajectory “very uncertain”.
A ‘pessimistic scenario’ model says case numbers could peak at 2,500-3,000 cases per day next month, with 800-1,000 people in hospital.
NPHET advised against a full pause on the easing of restrictions - saying it’s unlikely there’ll be a “sufficient improvement” in the situation in the coming weeks to justify that.
Dr Holohan said the reopening should proceed with protective measures in place and the “wide and robust” use of the COVID-19 pass.
However, the letter warns the “re-imposition of public health restrictive measures may be warranted” if the measures now in place don’t help control the spread of the virus.
