The chairperson of NPHET's Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group has insisted that there is "an obligation on all of us to protect the vulnerable by suppressing transmission of COVID-19 and preventing it circulating in our community".

According to Prof Philip Nolan, "there is a lot of talk" suggesting that we are not seeing as many hospitalisations and deaths from the virus. However, he emphasised that people are still being hospitalised and are still dying.

"Back in March and April, the mortality rate in over-65s for people with the more severe disease who got it was one in five. The mortality now would be around one in 20. That is not negligible. This is still a lethal virus," he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

On Sunday evening, 396 more cases of the virus were confirmed, bringing the total number of cases here to 32,933. No new deaths were recorded, leaving the total number of deaths at 1,792.

Of the 396 new cases, 241 were in Dublin, 26 were in Cork and 19 were in Donegal. Dublin is currently at level 3 of the Government's COVID-19 plan, which means that it faces more restrictions than the rest of the country, which is at level two.

However, the acting chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, has expressed concern about the increasing number of cases in other counties, specifically Donegal, Waterford and Louth.

He appealed to everyone in the country, but particularly in Dublin, Donegal, Waterford and Louth, to reduce their number of contacts.

"This virus spreads from person to person. We now have a collective task across the country to break the chains of transmission and stop this virus from spreading further.

"Plan to see half the number of people this week that you saw last week. When you do meet, do so safely - keep your distance, wear a face covering if appropriate and wash your hands. Every individual action we take to interrupt the transmission of this disease keeps ourselves and our families safe," Dr Glynn said.

Meanwhile, wet pubs outside of Dublin reopen today, after closing their doors last March. Until now, only pubs that served food could open, but from today, all pubs outside of Dublin can open, with strict rules attached.

These include limits on numbers, social distancing between customers and table service only.

For more information on the five-level plan, including the restrictions that apply to your county, click here.