Another 17 patients with Covid-19 have died in the Republic of Ireland, bringing the total number of deaths to 71.
In the last 24 hours 325 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, bringing the total to 3,235.
Across the country, 703 people have been hospitalised with Covid-19. Of these 113 are in intensive care.
Around a quarter of the transmissions are among healthcare workers, health officials said.
The Republic's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said it was the highest number of deaths in a day since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
“It is the largest number of deaths. We think overall it is in line with what we are seeing in terms of the growth of the epidemic,” he said.
“It’s a little early to start to project and make any significant statements about the trajectory or the number of deaths. Each one of them obviously is a tragedy for families and friends concerned which is why we continue to express our condolences to them.
“In terms of the spread of the infection and questions around surge, we see the number of cases increasing, we see the rate of growth of the infection at in or around 15% or so.
“It’s a significant reduction from the early stages of this epidemic in this country when the growth rate was 33%, so that’s a significant impact of the measures and is moving us on the flattening of the curve scenario that we have been describing since the beginning.
“We believe we are flattening the curve, but 15% growth is too much, we need to continue to work to try and flatten that growth further.”
Earlier today, the chief executive of the Republic's Health Service Executive appealed to the public to keep up their sacrifices as new figures show the coronavirus infection rate had dropped significantly.
Paul Reid tweeted: "I'm always an optimist and all of your sacrifices are helping. They really are. But it is far too early to be a trend. So a special plea to everyone to keep it going. In the HSE, we will continue to scale up to help us tackle the worst, as best we can."
It comes as experts on the National Public Health Emergency Team welcomed data showing the infection rate has dropped from 33 per cent to 15 per cent since restrictions on public life were first introduced earlier this month.
Leading epidemiologist Professor Philip Nolan said it would be another seven to 10 days before it could be determined whether the latest clampdown on movement, imposed by the Dublin government on Friday night, had helped to further cut the infection rate.
