Further restrictions in relation to household visits have been recommended by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

The entire country is at level 2 of the Government's five-level COVID plan, except for Dublin and Donegal, which are at level 3.

Under level 2, households can have up to six visitors from a maximum of three other households. However, in response to a "further deterioration" in the situation nationally, NPHET has recommended that this be reduced to no more than six visitors from just one other household.

This is already the case in Dublin and Donegal.

"The five-day average for cases is now 412 and 18 counties have an increased incidence rate when compared with last week. The reproduction number is estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.4, with the growth rate in cases between 4-5% per day," NPHET noted.

It said that it was particularly concerned about trends in disease severity. As of Thursday evening, there were 119 people in hospital, with 20 of these in ICU.

"While there continues to be a number of counties with particularly high incidence, our main concern now is the overall national picture," NPHET said.

A further 442 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Thursday evening, bringing the total number of cases here to 36,597.

A further four deaths were also confirmed, bringing the total number of deaths here to 1,806.

Of the 442 new cases, 170 occurred in Dublin, 47 in Cork, 28 in Donegal, 23 in Meath, 21 in Galway and 20 in Monaghan.

For more information on the restrictions in your county, click here.