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Today, about 470 cases of Covid-19 and one more death were confirmed, as new national restrictions have been introduced to reduce social contacts.
More than 37,000 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed and 1,801 deaths have occurred since the pandemic took hold in March.
The number of confirmed cases yesterday marks the highest daily number of new cases since April, at the height of the pandemic, with more than 300 new cases confirmed every day this week.
Of the confirmed cases, 68% were under 45 years old and 40% of them were linked to outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case.
Dublin continues to register a high number of cases with 198, followed by: 61 in Cork; 36 in Donegal; 19 in Kildare and Limerick; 12 in Kerry; 11 in Galway and Meath; 10 in Roscommon; nine in Cavan, Clare, Kilkenny, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath; eight in Louth; and seven in Tipperary and Wexford.
The remaining 17 cases were spread across seven counties.
Rising infection rates fueled speculation that other counties, including Cork, could join Dublin and Donegal in moving to Level 3 restrictions this weekend.
Instead, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommended stricter restrictions on social contacts across the country.
Under the new national restrictions, a maximum of six people from the same household can go to another house or meet socially.
Private households have been identified as the largest source of Covid-19 outbreaks, with more than 1,200 active groups confirmed this week.
Acting Health Department Medical Director Dr. Ronan Glynn said it was vital that everyone limit their social interactions to stop the spread of the disease in homes.
“The situation nationwide is of great concern and NPHET now recommends that no more than two households meet at any one time,” he said.
“Behave like you have the virus and keep yourself and those around you safe.
“Don’t take chances by organizing or attending meetings with more than one household,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the rise in infection rates was “quite concerning” and was also affecting hospitals, which had seen a 30% increase in the number of people admitted with Covid-19 during the past week.
On Friday there were 117 people in the hospital, of whom 21 were in intensive care with the virus.
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