There have been another 2,975 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ireland today.
A further 74 COVID related deaths have also been reported in the last week - the highest weekly total since NPHET started reporting deaths on a weekly basis five months ago.
44 of those deaths happened in November, 22 in October and the remaining eight happened before October.
The five-day average of new cases is now 3,365 - down slightly compared to recent days.
As of this morning, there were 551 patients with COVID-19 being treated in Irish hospitals.
That includes 89 patients in intensive care.
Dr Ronan Glynn said the COVID-19 situation has deteriorated in recent weeks across all counties and age groups.
However, he said officials are now seeing the "positive impacts" of the booster programme - with the incidence rate slowing among older age groups.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly today urged people to reduce their social contacts “just for a while” due to rising COVID-19 cases.
He said cases are rising “very, very quickly” in younger age groups in particular.
