Deputy CMO says incidence of Covid is "high and rising".
There are 2,066 new cases of Covid-19 - the highest figure in over three weeks.
26 virus-related deaths have been reported over the past week.
408 Covid patients are in hospital - the highest since March - with 69 in intensive care.
The deputy chief medical officer, Ronan Glynn, says the incidence of Covid is 'high and rising'.
Eoghan De Barra is an Infectious Diseases consultant working in Beaumont Hospital .
He says any extra pressure on the health service is a challenge:
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