THE Republic's Department of Health has recorded another 6,735 new cases of Covid-19.
Monday's figures, released by the department's National Public Health Emergency Team, show a fall of 3,669 from the previous day's new cases of infection.
Yesterday there were 461 people in southern hospitals being treated for the virus, which is an increase of 35 from Sunday.
Of Monday's inpatients, 91 were being treated in intensive care wards.
It is estimated that 87 per cent of reported cases in the south are the result of the Omicron variant.
Head of the HSE's vaccination programme, Damien McCallion, said that with a positivity rate of 49.7 per cent meaning almost one-in-two people testing for Covid are positive, waits for testing and results would be longer than before.
"When the disease is at the level that it's at, at the moment, it's almost impossible in relation to trying to sustain that demand," he said.
"So, we'll continue to provide a service, we will continue to provide access and continue to open up slots for people. But what's really key for people is to follow the public health advice in relation to restricting your movements and ensuring that you're symptom free for 48 hours before changing that."
In the north, Stormont's Department of Health will update its Covid data dashboard today.