LATEST: Kilkenny among 1,318 new cases of virus as 75 further deaths confirmed
A further 75 people have died after contracting the coronavirus as 1,318 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed.
The number of cases reported since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic has now passed 200,000.
The overall death toll as a result of the virus has now reached 3,587. There have now been 200,744 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country, according to the latest daily briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
The breakdown of the latest cases is as follows: 428 in Dublin, 122 in Cork, 93 in Galway, 78 in Kildare, 77 in Limerick and the remaining 520 cases are spread across all other counties, including 16 further infections in Kilkenny.
Commenting on today’s figures, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan said: “We know that the over 70s have suffered the greatest burden of mortality and serious illness from COVID-19. Ireland is now in a good position; we can now offer highly effective and safe vaccines to this cohort.”
“The superior efficacy demonstrated by the mRNA vaccines authorised for use in Ireland, Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna mean that the mRNA vaccines are the right vaccine to provide the highest level of protection available to those over 70.”
“Over the coming weeks, we will see many more of our vulnerable loved ones receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. This is good news and gives all of us great hope,” Dr Holohan concluded.
