There have been 4,962 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Republic, according to the Department of Health.
Seven further deaths associated with the virus have also been reported in the past 24 hours.
The latest figures bring the total amount of cases here to 101,887, while the number of coronavirus-related deaths stands at 2,259.
Of the latest cases, 63% are under 45 years of age, while the median age is 36 years old.
Regarding the nationwide distribution of cases, 1,260 are in Dublin, 652 in Limerick, 350 in Cork, 321 in Louth, 238 in Meath and 2,141 spread across all remaining counties.
2,408 are men and 2,539 are women.
As of 2pm today, 685 people are now receiving treatment in hospital for the virus after 96 new admissions in the past 24 hours.
Of those patients, 62 are in ICU, up from 54 yesterday.
The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of the population now stands at 469.8.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health said this is "a critical time" amid "a really significant surge in infection, which is leading to a very rapid increase in both hospitalisations and admissions to critical care units".
"This is not only unsustainable for the healthcare system, but also a deeply concerning level of preventable sickness and suffering that we must work together to address as quickly as possible," he added.
“The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has more than doubled from this day last week, and so has the number of people in ICU.
"Remember that behind each hospital statistic and ICU figure is a real person like you, with a family who cares about them, and a team of healthcare workers dedicated to protecting their lives.
Dr Holohan warned we must be as dedicated as we all were in the spring in our commitment to following the public health advice.
“Act as though you are infectious. Stay at home. Work from home starting from tomorrow, and if you are an employer, ask your employees to work at home," he advised.
"What we all do at a collective level today will have a direct impact on the level of infection and hospitalisations in the weeks to come.
“Your safe actions now will protect our hospitals and those who work so hard in them.
"Simply put: when you stay at home, you protect the frontline healthcare workers who have worked tirelessly to keep us all safe throughout this pandemic. Hold firm and remember them.”
Meanwhile, 1,662 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours.
There have also been six additional deaths reported by the Department of Health there.
Main image: Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie
