There have been 227 new cases of coronavirus cases confirmed in the Republic.
Five further deaths have also been reported.
Of today's new cases, 70 were in Dublin, 26 in Donegal, 19 in Limerick,14 in Louth, 14 in Kilkenny and the remaining 84 cases were spread across 17 other counties.
As of 2pm today, there were 224 COVID-19 patients in Irish hospitals - including 38 in intensive care.
The 14-day incidence rate is now 79 per 100,000 population.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “Today we have seen eight new admissions to ICU, the most in a 24 hour period since the spring time.
“COVID-19 is still an extremely infectious disease which has the potential to lead to hospitalisation and even ICU admissions.
“Ireland has managed to suppress COVID-19 to the lowest incidence levels in the EU in recent weeks. We have managed to keep up our safe behaviours and worked to protect each other throughout the pandemic."
He added that officials are 'actively planning' to start vaccinating people in early 2021, but "we cannot afford to drop our guard now".
