LATEST: Doubts over full reopening as almost 2,000 new cases of virus confirmed

A further 1,914 more people have contracted the coronavirus, the Department of Health confirmed this evening.

And there are now 413 patients being treated for the virus in hospital, down two since yesterday. 73 of these are in ICU, a rise of three.

There have been 11,755 confirmed cases in the past seven days.

The worrying rise in figures come as Deputy Chief Medical Officer urged people to work from home where possible as Ireland moves into the autumn and winter period.

In a video on Twitter, Dr Ronan Glynn said that with “vast parts of society open” people are now mixing and interacting on a scale “far greater than at any point in the pandemic to date”.

He said this gives viruses such as Covid-19 and the flu a chance to circulate, and people should continue to wash their hands and not meet up with other people if they have any symptoms.