The HSE's Chief Clinical Officer's warning there could be up to 3,000 Covid-19 hospital admissions by the end of the month if the current growth rate continues.

Dr. Colm Henry says if this plays out, it will result in the health system being overrun.

673 patients are currently being treated in hospital for the virus, with 56 people in ICUs.

Quoted in today's Sunday Independent, Dr Henry has described the situation as "grave" and has pleaded with people to adhere now more than ever to public health guidelines.

Intensive Care Physician at University Hospital Limerick, Dr. Catherine Motherway, says the surge in admissions is beginning to impact critical care:

It comes after there were 3,394 new cases of coronavirus in the Republic confirmed last night - that's nearly double the previous record.

Four more patients have died and Cork has the most cases with 389.

There are 233 new cases in Mayo, 150 in Sligo, 116 in Galway, 68 in Roscommon and 29 in Leitrim.

The country's 14 day incidence rate is 381.6 per 100 thousand people and Monaghan has the highest incident rate in the country with 783.6.