The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said the coronavirus is still circulating and the risk of infection is very real.
He was speaking as 15 more people with COVID-19 died here on Monday, along with 139 new confirmed cases.
There have now been a total 1,467 deaths related to the virus in Ireland.
There is a total of 23,135 confirmed cases of the virus here.
Data of all cases as of midnight on Saturday reveals:
- 57% are women and 43% are men
- The median age of confirmed cases is 49 years
- 2,998 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
- Of those hospitalised, 383 cases have been admitted to ICU
- 6,834 cases are associated with healthcare workers
Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,175 (49% of all cases) - followed by Kildare with 1,331 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,232 cases (5%).
Of those for whom transmission status is known, community transmission accounts for 61%, close contact is 36% and travel abroad accounts for 3%.
Research conducted on behalf of the Department of Health shows that while 43% of the population believe that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, compliance with safe behaviours remains high.
Some 95% to people are washing their hands more often, 78% are coughing into their elbows, 71% are disposing of used tissues immediately and 90% are social distancing in queues.
The nationally representative online survey of 1,270 adults was conducted on Monday.
It reveals that the public intend to continue with safe behaviours into the future.
Some 71% say they intend to use sanitizer, up from 59% a month ago
While 61% intend to sit further apart from others when outside or on public transport, up from 36% one month ago.
And 34% say they intend staying at home rather than going out, up from 16% last month.
On Monday, Dr Holohan said: "As we approach May 18th, the next date highlighted in the Government’s Roadmap, we continue to monitor key parameters associated with COVID-19.
"These include the number of new cases, numbers admitted to hospital and currently in ICU and the number of deaths.
“While 43% of the population believe the worst of this pandemic is behind us, the virus is still circulating, the risk is still there in our communities.
"The health service will continue to prepare and respond to the virus, the public are asked to stay the course and keep up the progress we have made."
