The Department of Health has been notified of 1,496 further coronavirus cases.
The number of people with the virus in hospital has fallen by 14 to 248. There are 54 patients in intensive care, down three on yesterday.
The Chief Medical Officer has said that the 14-day incidence rate of the virus is 493 per 100,000, the highest since 31 January.
In a post on Twitter, Dr Tony Holohan said that the incidence of the disease is rising steadily in nearly all age groups and in 21 out of 26 counties.
He said that last Tuesday, an average of three people with Covid-19 were being admitted to intensive care every day and this has now doubled to six people per day.
Dr Holohan urged people to continue following public health advice in the coming weeks, in order to break transmission of the virus.
Our current 14-day incidence is 493 per 100,000, the highest it's been since January 31, and incidence of disease is continuing to rise steadily in nearly all age groups and in 21 out of 26 counties.
— Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) August 17, 2021
The head of the Health Service Executive has said that over 6.4 million vaccines have been administered, with 82% of adults fully vaccinated and 90% partially vaccinated.
Paul Reid said that there continues to be "great progress" on the vaccination of 12-15 year-olds.
He said that nearly 100,000 people have registered for a vaccine and 47,000 have been administered.
Now over 6.4M vaccines administered here with 82% of adults fully vaccinated & 90% partially. Continued great progress too on the 12-15 year olds, with almost 100,000 registered & 47,000 administered. The vaccines are working & give us a pathway to a brighter future. @HSELive
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) August 17, 2021
The response to the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out has been described as "phenomenal" by the HSE National Lead for the Vaccine Programme.
Damien McCallion told RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme that Ireland has "the highest rate in Europe nearly" in relation to vaccine uptake.
He encouraged anyone who is partially vaccinated to come forward for their second dose and said they are not seeing anything at the moment that would suggest that people will not do that.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Health has said that he has received advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee that vaccines can be mixed in certain circumstances.
Stephen Donnelly said it is good news for people who have received one dose of AstraZeneca and, for various reasons, have a preference for an mRNA vaccine for their second dose.
