Update:
Waterford will remain at level two COVID-19 restrictions.
For the second day in a row, Waterford is not included in the list of counties with high numbers of new cases of coronavirus.
The total since the outbreak began and up to midnight on Tuesday remains at 326. There were no new cases announced for Waterford yesterday.
Great relief that Waterford has escaped Level 3 restrictions at this time, we must continue to re- double our efforts and keep our distance, limit our contacts, wear a mask, wash our hands #COVIDー19 All these measure work and will continue to work. #staysafe pic.twitter.com/6hTk7P98xg
— Mary Butler TD (@MaryButlerTD) September 24, 2020
Another day with low reported positive cases in Waterford. The mighty community and individual effort to keep socially distant & get the basics right is paying dividends. We need to keep it up and stay ahead of the virus. @HSELive @ronan_glynn @wlrfm
— David Cullinane T.D. (@davidcullinane) September 24, 2020
Three more people have died of Covid-19 in the Republic and there are 324 new cases.
167 are in Dublin, 42 are in Donegal and 34 are in Cork, with the others spread across 18 different counties.
Two-thirds are among people under 45, and 81 cases have been identified as community transmission.
The total number of cases now stands at 33,994, and the death toll has risen to 1,797.
Earlier:
Donegal is being put to level three COVID restrictions as early as tonight.
The cabinet is meeting over the phone this afternoon to consider advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team.
It's understood Waterford will be given more time to reduce the spread of the disease.
Expecting a statement from the Taoiseach and CMO to start between 5.45 and 6pm moving Donegal to level three restrictions
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) September 24, 2020
The latest figures for Donegal show the county has moved above 122 cases per 100,000.
For contrast when NPHET made the decision to move Dublin to level three last week, the capital had a lower 14-day incident rate of 114.2.
The figures for Derry and Strabane in Northern Ireland, neighbouring Donegal, have now hit 141.4 cases per 100,000.
The cabinet is meeting in-corporeally this evening to discuss the rapid escalation.
It had been expected a decision wouldn't be taken until next week, but the rise in cases in Donegal has led to a quicker intervention.
Government sources have suggested that will be the only county moved to level three.
Waterford saw a slight drop in the incidence number today and will be given more time to reduce the spread.
There has been concern over the spread of the virus in Louth, which is the only other county with an incidence rate over 100.
It's unclear whether any further restrictions will be placed on Louth, but one source indicated people there will be given more time.
A full announcement is expected this evening.
