IRELAND'S incidence of Covid-19 cases rate has now surpassed that of the UK and Italy.
This is the measurement of how many coronavirus cases are identified over a 14-day period per 100,000 people.
Ireland's rate now stands at 34.7 cases per 100,000, a slight increase on Sunday's rate of 33.2.
Worryingly, that rate is now higher than both the UK (32.3) and Italy (30.3) - two of Europe's worst-hit nations.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is set to meet this Thursday to discuss the rise in case numbers in Dublin and in the healthcare sector.
NPHET is also predicted to reduce the quarantine period from 14 days to ten days as a result of new research and evidence on Covid-19.
Despite Ireland's alarming incidence rate, its 14-day cumulative death rate per 100,000 stands at zero - joint-lowest throughout Europe, and level with the likes of Norway, Iceland, Finland, Austria, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Liechtenstein.
Ireland has failed to record a single death from Covid-19 since mid-August, with the death toll still standing at 1,777.
