There have been 2,944 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Republic, according to the Department of Health.
13 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 172,726, while the number of coronavirus-related deaths stands at 2,608.
Of the latest cases, 57% are under 45 years of age, while the median age is 40 years old.
The median age of those who died is 83 years, and the age range is 66 to 97 years.
Regarding the nationwide distribution of cases, 1,065 are in Dublin, 306 in Cork, 181 in Galway, 180 in Kildare, 160 in Limerick and the remaining 1,052 cases are spread across all other counties.
Today’s cases, 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 and new cases in last 14 days (as of midnight 16 January 2021)As of 2pm today, 1,928 people are now receiving treatment in hospital for the virus after 68 new admissions in the past 24 hours.
Of those patients, 195 are in ICU, up from 191 yesterday.
The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of the population now stands at 1487.9.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health said the situation in hospitals "is stark".
"We are seeing people of all ages being admitted to hospital and being taken into intensive care units," he said.
"The levels of infection are such that your chances of transmitting or getting COVID-19 are very high, and we know that a proportion of those cases will lead to serious illness and mortality."
Dr Holohan added that "there is no group who should feel the public health advice does not apply to them".
He said: "It is only if we act together that we can keep ourselves, our loved ones, and health and social care facilities safe.
“As we look forward to the week ahead, consider your choices and make the right ones. Do not go into work tomorrow if you can work from home. If you are an employer, facilitate remote working for your employees.”
Meanwhile, 822 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours.
There have also been 25 additional deaths reported by the Department of Health there, four of which occurred outside the past 24 hours.
Main image: Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health. Photo:Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie
