The number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 has surged to 1,042, the latest figures show.
This is an increase of nearly 100 on yesterday's number of 957 patients in hospital who tested positive for Covid-19.
Not since January 12 have more people have been in hospital with Covid-19 when 1,055 were admitted.
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At the end of February, Covid-19 cases in hospitals stood at 600.
However a large number of these new cases are in for a different reason and just incidentally test positive while in hospital and appear to be less serious.
This is shown in the ICU admissions which have hovered around 40 and currently stands at 41.
At the end of February, the requirement to wear masks in retail settings and on public transport was removed and replaced with health guidance.
With St Patrick's Day around the corner, one Fine Gael senator has called for the reintroduction of masks on public transport and in retail settings.
Senator Jerry Buttimer said: "There who are immuno-suppressed, the elderly, those in nursing homes, those who are vulnerable that need to be supported."
"I just think that it would make sense that if we looked and reviewed the whole mask-wearing argument and suggestion from the government would be stronger than what it is at the moment."
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