The country's Chief Medical Officer says the covid situation is getting worse more rapidly than expected.
Dr Tony Holohon's urging people to cut their contacts after 582 new cases were confirmed and 6 more deaths.
193 of the cases are in Dublin, 59 in Wexford, 47 in Louth, 42 in Meath, 34 in Cork and the remaining 207 cases are spread all other remaining counties.
Across the region there are 11 new cases in Galway, 7 in Sligo, 5 in Mayo and less than 5 in Roscommon.
198 COVID patients are in hospital, 34 of whom are in ICU.
The 14 day incidence rate per 100,000 is now 100.8.
Dr Holohan says the country cannot cope with this level of infection as we head into Christmas week.
DCU Professor Anthony Staines says Nphet is right to re-impose restrictions before the New Year
