17,656 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed this evening.
928 COVID-19 patients are in hospital, of which 94 are in ICU.
40 virus related deaths have also been recorded in the past week.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan says it was concerning to see the rising number of people with COVID-19 in hospital.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach says teachers won't be given a special exemption from isolation rules for close contacts.
Unions have warned thousands of teachers will be absent due to Covid when schools reopen tomorrow.
Close contacts who've been fully vaccinated but don't have symptoms currently have to stay at home for 10 days.
While half of schools are facing a 20 percent staffing shortage, with a limited number of substitute teachers available.
That’s according to a survey by the Irish Primary Principals Network, which found many schools are preparing to deploy special needs teachers to cover mainstream staff.
