A senior HSE official says there’s still predominantly a message of hope despite the surge in Covid cases.
3,726 cases were recorded yesterday, the highest since mid-January.
The Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE, Dr Colm Henry, admits hospitals are under sustained pressure.
But he says vaccines are protecting against serious illness in many cases.
"We're certainly worried about the big jump in the number of cases, there's no doubt about that.
"That 14 day incidence has jumped to 6/700 per 100,000 over the past two weeks, a big jump.
"What is holding tight is the protection the vaccine programme is giving the most vulnerable groups.
"Even though our hospitals are under sustained pressure, we haven't seen such a corresponding rise in hospitalisations, or people being admitted to ITU with Covid."
