President Michael D Higgins has urged all Irish citizens to do their 'almighty best' to stop the spread of coronavirus.

President Higgins has released a message to mark six months of the 'shared struggle' against COVID-19.

It comes amid the continued spike in new cases, with health officials raising particular concerns about the situation in Dublin.

In his message, President Higgins called on everyone to work together to 're-double our efforts' against the virus.

He said: "I believe that we must now, with our schools re-opened, muster a fresh determination to give our efforts, as the late John B Keane might put it, ‘our almighty best.’

"I suggest we do so on the basis of Good Citizenship. Yes, one’s personal health is more secure when there is a good following of the public health advice, but making the effort is an achievement that goes beyond the self in the protection of others.

"Following the guidelines and the advice is, fundamentally, an act of Good Citizenship."

He said it's vital to share of the grief of those who lost loved ones and the distress of those whose lives have been changed, and to address the loneliness of those who have been cut off from contact with others.

He observed: "As a sociologist I am frankly disappointed at the scant references that have been in the discourse to what is known, from research in social studies, on inter-relationships of both the young and the not so young, the aging, the aged and the many who do not fit neatly into these categories."

President Higgins said it's now important to "speak and encourage each other to have a vision of the light that will surely come from all of our efforts when renewed and redoubled".

He added: "Let us all agree that the greatest act of appreciation we can show towards all those workers taking risks on our behalf in essential services, day and night, is to re-double our efforts to avoid infection.

"Let’s do that together."