A further 416 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Republic, as well as five more deaths.

This brings the total number of cases here to 61,456, while the total number of deaths is now 1,913.

Of the 416 confirmed cases, 87 occurred in Dublin, 62 in Cork, 41 in Mayo and 37 in Galway.

As of 2pm on Saturday, there were 320 people in hospital with confirmed COVID, 41 of whom were in ICU. There had been 19 additional hospitalisations in the previous 24 hours.

The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of the population in the 14 days up to midnight on October 30 was 268.7 nationally. However 12 counties were above this national average, with Cavan the worst affected, at 645.9 per 100,000, followed by Meath (500.9), Westmeath (362.7) and Sligo (358.6).

The counties with the lowest 14-day incidence rate were Leitrim (118.8), Wicklow (128.5) and Kilkenny (134).

According to the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, the country is making progress in suppressing the current rise of COVID-19.

"Ireland is currently one of only four countries in the EU with a reduction in its seven-day incidence. Nationally, our reproductive number has reduced to about 1.0.

"We are working collectively to achieve suppression, but it is too early to ease our efforts. The incidence is decreasing in young adults, but it continues to rise in those aged over 75. We have more to do but we are on the right track," he commented.

For more information on level 5 restrictions, which apply to the entire country, click here.