Numbers in hospital continue to fall

The number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 continues to reduce, according to the latest official figures. There are currently 546 confirmed cases of the disease in hospitals, down eight on the situation yesterday evening. There are 120 Covid-19 patients being treated in intensive care - an decrease of 13 since yesterday.

Vaccination is also continuing apace and according to the latest figures from the HSE. 426,070 vaccine doses had been administered by last Friday. Of these, 285,780 were first doses and 140,296 were second doses. By Friday, 45,741 people aged 85 or older had received their first dose. Three had received their second dose.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has been notified of one further coronavirus-related death and 687 new cases, including 32 in Meath.

The death toll from Covid-19 in Ireland now stands at 4,319, and the total number of confirmed cases is now at 220,273.

Of the cases notified today:

352 are men / 334 are female

71per cent are under 45 years of age

The median age is 30 years old