NPHET is warning of the an 'exponential' growth in hospital admissions.
The National Public Health Emergency Team says the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital is growing 'exponentially'.
The chairman of its modelling group says an average of 13 patients are being admitted every day.
Professor Philip Nolan says ICU admissions are also rising rapidly.
The total number of cases reached 40,000 last night, after 506 new infections were confirmed.
UCC virus expert, Professor Gerry Killeen, says more restrictions will be needed to stop the recent trend.
Two patients with covid-19 are in intensive care in midlands hospitals - one each in Tullamore and Portlaoise.
There are currently nine patients in total with covid-19 in Mullingar Regional Hospital, eight in Tullamore, and four in Portlaoise.
There are no critical care or general beds available in Mullingar or Portlaoise Hospitals.
While Tullamore has one of each.
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