CEO of the Health Service Executive Paul Reid has said a "sad milestone" was reached yesterday with the news that over 2,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland.
Speaking at the HSE's weekly Covid-19 update, Mr Reid said this is a "sad reminder to us all of the toll that the virus has taken on many families and communities".
He said he wanted to recognise the role of healthcare workers, and how they are the key link in people's last days to their families.
He said the couple of weeks are "so important." "Trends have stalled", he said, but added that he wanted to "recognise the need for all of us to encourage the public to sustain the pace for the next phase given what has been achieved to date."