There have been five coronavirus-related deaths and 1,095 new cases of the disease notified to the Department of Health in the past 24 hours.
This brings the death toll here to 1,835 with 45,243 confirmed cases. This includes the denotification of 11 previously confirmed cases.
Today's figure of 1,095 additional cases is the highest single number reported on one day. It compares with 1,068 reported on 15 April.
The latest HSE figures show that there has been a further fall in the numbers in hospital with the coronavirus.
As of 8pm this evening, there were 214 people being treated, down from 234 this morning.
The number of patients receiving treatment in intensive care units remains steady at 30.
The latest coronavirus cases include 246 in Dublin, 185 in Meath,128 in Cavan, 118 in Cork, 63 in Kildare with the remaining 342 cases spread across all remaining counties.
Cavan has the highest 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 in the country at 571, followed by Monaghan (360), Donegal (353.7), Clare (307.2) and Meath (299.9).
Counties with the lowest rate of cases include Waterford (69.7), Wicklow (77.2), Carlow (80.8), Tipperary (82.7) and Mayo (89.7).
Dublin is at 185.4, Cork at 209.4, Limerick at 192.4 and Galway at 174.
The HSE has performed 101,270 tests in the last seven days, breaking the 100,000 a week level, latest figures show. The seven-day positivity rate has also increased to 6.2%.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: "Today, we again report a daily new confirmed case figure over 1,000. This situation is extremely concerning. Every single one of us has a role to play.
"We each need to reduce contact with other people as much as possible, so that means staying at home, working from home where possible, practising physical distancing and stopping discretionary socialising."
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: "People must now make choices. Stop meeting up in groups, stop socialising, stop organising play dates, parties and other social activities.
"People must recognise that the disease is a direct threat to themselves and their families. Now is the time for each of us to act."
You can see the 1,068 figure there on April 15 in this HSE report. As I recall, it did include some backlog cases but it was at the time, the largest figure officially announced on a single day. Until tonight. pic.twitter.com/BNtdI56Ni3
— Fergal Bowers (@FergalBowers) October 14, 2020
A record 1,217 new cases of the virus were confirmed in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours with four additional deaths.
Ahead of new restrictions being introduced across the North on Friday, Stormont's Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the fight against Covid-19 must be done on an all-island basis.
"That's not a political point, that's a purely medical, scientific point," she added.
Meanwhile, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) has revealed the latest data on outbreaks and clusters of Covid-19 for the week ending 10 October.
There have been 25 new outbreaks associated with school children and/or school staff in that period.
However, transmission of Covid-19 within the school, as opposed to the community, had not necessarily been established, the HSPC said.
The Minister for Education has revealed that 6,000 students and teachers have been tested for Covid-19 so far and less than 2% have tested positive, compared to a positivity rate of more than 6% in the community.
Norma Foley said if the country went to Level 5, then public health advice would be sought as regards schools remaining open.
She told a press briefing that schools in Kildare, Laois and Offaly had stayed open when those counties were under restrictions and students continued to travel into and out of those counties for educational reasons.
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Other new outbreaks reported by the HSPC include 352 in private homes, 22 among extended family members, 15 in childcare facilities, 11 in nursing homes, eight in hospitals and six in residential institutions.
Seven outbreaks were linked to restaurants/cafes and four to pubs. One outbreak occurred in a meat/poultry/fish processing plant, while three occurred in other food processing plants.
Four outbreaks occurred on construction sites, with one additional outbreak in a business associated with the construction sector.
There were also eight new outbreaks reported in vulnerable populations during the week ending 10 October. All were among members of the Traveller community.
Also today, a new survey revealed that the majority of people believe that the Government should introduce further restrictions to control the spread of Covid-19.
This is according to the latest Public Opinion Tracking Research conducted on behalf of the Department of Health by Amárach Research.
