There have been 13 further COVID-19 related deaths and 970 new cases in Ireland.
There is now a total of 81,228 confirmed cases and 2,171 COVID-19 related deaths here.
This includes the denotification of nine cases.
Of the cases notified today:
- 470 are men /494 are women
- 64% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 37-years-old
Some 348 cases are in Dublin, 60 in Limerick, 59 in Cork, 59 in Wexford and 55 in Louth.
The remaining 389 cases are spread across 20 other counties.
As of 2.00pm, 238 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised - of which 28 are in ICU.
There have been 23 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: "The current trajectory of the disease in the community is of grave concern.
"In the last seven days to midnight Monday, we have reported 4,478 cases - an increase of more than 110% over the preceding week.
"In the last fivew days, we have seen extraordinary growth in the incidence of the virus across the country, significantly increasing the level of risk associated with the kind of inter-generational mixing that is normally experienced over the Christmas holidays.
"To protect ourselves, our families and our vulnerable loved ones in particular, further economic and social restrictions will begin to be introduced from Christmas Eve.
"It is up to each one of us to rethink our plans for this Christmas period, especially when it comes to visiting older or more medically vulnerable family members and friends."
He also said while a roll-out of a vaccination programme here before New Year's Day is welcome, this will take time.
"Widespread vaccination of the population will take time, so we need to continue to adhere to the public health advice on hand washing, keeping two metre distance, wearing face coverings where appropriate, covering our coughs and reducing our social contacts for the duration of the level five restrictions."
