The Department of Health has reported 1,758 new cases of covid-19.
As of 8 O'Clock this morning, 248 patients are in hospital with the virus.
While 48 of those are receiving intensive care, an increase of 5 in 24 hours.
The head of the HSE says Covid case numbers have risen six-fold in the last six weeks - and remain a "very live threat" to hospitals.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid says the rising number of infections is a concern.
"It's still a very live threat to us [...] case levels are rising at all ages. It's a real, I guess, alert to all of us. We take strong encouragement vaccinations are working, but we're not bulletproof."
Over 20 thousand children aged between 12 and 15 have received a Covid-19 vaccine so far.
Registration opened for teenagers on Wednesday evening to get a Pfizer or Moderna jab.
More than 6.3 million doses have now been administered with 81 per cent of adults fully vaccinated.
