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The public will still have to limit their contacts when the Level 5 restrictions are lifted on December 1, HSE CEO Paul Reid said.
Reid said Christmas was an important time for families and for Irish society, but it was important to be honest with people about the level of contacts they might have, he said.
Monday saw one more Covid-19-related death in the Republic and 270 additional cases.
It brings the total number of deaths linked to the virus in the state to 1,948 with 65,659 cases, according to figures from the Health Department.
The 14-day incidence of the virus nationwide is 175.5 cases per 100,000 people. Donegal has the highest incidence in the county at 295.2 and Leitrim has the lowest at 34.3.
In Europe, only Norway, Finland, Estonia and Latvia currently have lower incidence figures than Ireland, according to the European Center for Disease Control.
North Ireland
The Mid Ulster Council District is the worst affected area in the North with an incidence rate of 699 cases per 100,000 residents during the past 14 days.
The next highest rate is found in the Derry and Strabane area, with 606.1 cases per 100,000.
The North West saw an increase in cases in October, and at one point Derry and Strabane had the highest infection rate in Ireland and the UK.
Dublin
The latest data shows that the 14-day infection rate in Dublin is 186.8 cases per 100,000 people, less than in six other counties.
Within the city itself, infection rates vary. Dublin North West, an area that covers Smithfield, Phibsborough, Finglas and Blanchardstown, has the highest rate today: 258.6 cases per 100,000 people in the last two weeks.
Dublin South, which covers Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire, Stillorgan and Shankill, has a rate of 83.8 cases per 100,000.
Christmas restrictions
Speaking at Newstalk Breakfast, Paul Reid said that while trends were good in Ireland with Covid numbers dropping, the country had to learn from what happened when the society and economy opened in June and July.
Because restrictions were lifted in the summer, there were “massive increases” in cases again in August, September and October.
Reid said it was important that people continue to reduce the number of contacts they have and the number of homes they visit.
“Christmas is a very important time for families, it is a very important time for Irish society, it is highly valued by everyone. And we need to give people good hope and encouragement that the actions they are taking now deserve that we all have a reasonable Christmas.
“But I think that we also have to be honest with people and also say that if we can work during December and during Christmas carrying out the behaviors that we are doing at the moment, and it really is about reducing our contacts, it is a very It is important that we do not end up in the same position for January, February or March. “
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