The Department of Health has reported 5,452 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 8,644 positive antigen tests recorded through the HSE portal.
As of 8am today, 1,081 Covid-19 patients were in hospital, with 44 being treated in ICU.
In Northern Ireland, five more people who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 have died, the Department of Health said.
Another 2,391 confirmed cases of the virus have also been notified in the last 24-hour reporting period.
This morning, there were 515 Covid-19 patients in hospital, with four in intensive care.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said there is concern about the increase in Covid-19 cases.
Speaking from Washington, Mr Martin said it is his understanding that about 50% of hospital Covid cases are in people who presented at hospital for another ailment and were diagnosed with Covid once inside.
He was speaking as the latest figures show that the number of people with Covid-19 in hospital is at its highest level in more than 13 months.
Mr Martin said ICU numbers are "not rising as we speak", as they remain relatively stable at 44, and they have been in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer and Minister for Health about this and will keep it under review.
"I've always been of the view, and the Chief Medical Officer has advised, that we should wear masks where appropriate, particularly in retail, public transport and large indoor gatherings," he said.
"But I think what we are looking at, to be fair, is far more transmissible variants of Covid-19, so it is much more difficult to avoid than maybe earlier variants.
"Also, there may be some waning around the infection part of the vaccines, but the good news is that the vaccines are still very effective in terms of preventing serious illness arising from Covid."
The Taoiseach said the message is to enjoy St Patrick’s Day, but to be comfortable in what you are doing and to take basic precautions in terms of your own health and the Covid situation.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that the Govt is concerned with the increase of Covid-19 cases. However, he said that the number of people with the virus in ICU is not rising and that he has been in consultation with the CMO | https://t.co/TglyTuGajR pic.twitter.com/YdV2UrsiCr
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 16, 2022
Elsewhere, the Chair of the GP Committee of the Irish Medical Organisation has said there has been "a very rapid increase" in Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks.
Dr Denis McCauley, who is a Donegal-based GP, said he does not believe the current case numbers reflect the true level.
"I really feel that quite a lot of people who have positive antigen tests aren't registering [on the HSE portal]," he said.
Dr McCauley said said while "a lot of people are getting quite sick, thankfully less are getting ill".
"I know there is an acceptance that quite a lot of the hospital numbers are either from people who have been admitted for another reason and are proving to be Covid positive, or are actually getting Covid while in hospital," he added.
He also said the number of people with symptomatic Covid "is actually going up".
"Thankfully this hasn't been reflected in the ICU numbers yet, but unfortunately as we know, there is generally a lag of two weeks for this."
However, he said "it is reassuring that the numbers in ICU are static".
Dr McCauley also urged people to consider wearing a mask if they are in crowded situations over the coming days.
"You may be in good health but the person beside you may be immunocompromised, so I think it's important that we do show respect when socialising," he said.
"If you are in a crowded area, outdoors and indoors, do show respect and wear a mask," he added.
The World Health Organization's Special Envoy said it seems that waves of Covid-19 grow and peak around every four months and there is no precise explanation for this.
Dr David Nabarro said the virus is "immensely transmissible" and immunity that comes after infection tends to drop off substantially around four months after contracting the disease.
However, he told RTÉ's News at One that this is not something that people should be worried about.
Dr Nabarro said that countries should not rush to dismantle infrastructure for testing and contact tracing.
He said it is important that people keep up to date on their vaccines, that mask wearing and physical distancing resume if there is a large uptick in numbers and that people are prepared for potential surges and the possibility of increased restrictions should this happen.
Hospitals under 'extreme pressure'
The Health Service Executive has appealed to people to consider all care options before attending Emergency Departments over the coming days.
The HSE said health services are experiencing significant pressures due to a combination of record attendances at EDs, a high number of people with Covid-19 in hospital and virus related staff absences.
People are being urged to avail of minor injury units, GPs, the GP Out of Hours service and pharmacies before attending Emergency Departments, exceptfor urgent cases.
The HSE Chief Clinical Officer said there is concern over "successive weeks of highest ever presentations" at EDs combined with the "very high numbers of people testing positive with Covid in hospitals".
Of the 1,081 patients with the virus today, Dr Colm Henry said only about half are in hospital due Covid but he said "that's still 566 sick with the virus in hospital today".
"The care they need, the infection and prevention control measures that goes around them to protect them, protect staff, protect services is very disruptive to healthcare," he said.
He said only 44% of those people have received their booster dose and he renewed his appeal for the unvaccinated to come forward to get vaccinated and for people to avail of booster shots.
He believes "there is a reduced sense of urgency and people might feel the pandemic is gone away" but he said "Covid certainly hasn't gone away."
Additional reporting Fergal O'Brien
