Ireland’s national coronavirus rate has fallen for the first time in more than three weeks.

The Cabinet is to meet at 5:30pm to consider NPHETs call for the entire country to move to Level 5 restrictions.

The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan outlined his reasoning for the move in a meeting with the leaders of the three government parties and the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Health this afternoon.

Meanwhile, leaders in the North are due to speak to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson today about the surge in cases across the border.

Some 616 new cases were announced in the North this afternoon.

The 14-day of COVID-19 per 100,000 population for every county in Ireland. Image: HPSC

According to the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the 14-day incidence of the virus in the Republic dropped today for the first time in more than three weeks.

There were 107.4 cases of the virus for every 100,000 people in the State over the last two weeks – down from 108 yesterday.

On Friday, the national figure was 96.3.

🚨 National 14-day incidence rate falls slightly for the first time in over three weeks

📈 Days without a fall in rate

Cork - 24
Donegal - 22
Clare - 12
Longford - 10
Roscommon - 8

📉Days without a rise in rate

Waterford - 9 pic.twitter.com/JFSfZDved5

— Ben Finnegan (@_BenFinnegan) October 5, 2020

Donegal still has the highest rate in the country at 257.6 with Monaghan in second place on 177.6.

Dublin is now on 162, with Roscommon on 159.6, Longford on 132.1 and Cork on 105.4.

Clare and Kildare are both over 90 while Cavan and Galway are in the high-80s.

Mayo has the lowest rate in the country followed by Leitrim.

The 14-day of COVID-19 per 100,000 population in Dublin. Image: HPSC

Dublin South East now has the highest 14-day rate in the capital at 221.5 followed by Dublin North Central at 217.4.

Dublin South-East includes Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Ranelagh, Donnybrook, Milltown, Dundrum, Ballinteer, Sandyford, and Kilternan.

Dublin North-Central includes Ballymun, Drumcondra, Whitehall, North inner City, Fairview, Clontarf and Donneycarney.

File photo of Alan Kelly. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/Rollingnews.ie

Meanwhile, the number of people in hospital is now at its highest level since early June.

There were 150 COVID-19 patients in hospital as of 8am this morning, with 23 people taken to intensive care with their symptoms.

this afternoon, Labour leader Alan Kelly said the Government should step in and purchase some of the private hospitals instead of moving to Level 5.

“We believe that instead of possibly going to Level 5, if ICU capacity is the main issue, then we should just buy a number of the hospitals,” he said.

“If you think about it, it will pay for itself. If we buy the hospitals and if we take in a lot of their capacity, if that is the main issue, we would be able to keep the economy much more open.”

“We believe that instead of possibly going to Level 5, if ICU capacity is the main issue, then we should just buy a number of the hospitals,” he said.

“If you think about it, it will pay for itself. If we buy the hospitals and if we take in a lot of their capacity, if that is the main issue, we would be able to keep the economy much more open.”

Health officials confirmed 10 further coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland on Saturday and the national death toll now stands at 1,810.

Of the 90,199 tests carried out in the last week, 3.65 came back positive.