LATEST: Highest number of cases recorded since January as walk-in vaccination centres open for children

Almost 3,000 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed today.

The Department of Health said it has been notified of 2,966 new cases of the virus over the past 24-hours.

It’s the highest number of cases reported since January when restrictions were in place to combat the third wave of the virus.

There are now 470 patients in hospital with Covid-19, down 11 from yesterday. Of these, 92 people are being treated in ICU, a drop of five.

Meanwhile, walk-in and appointment-only vaccination clinics are open across the country this weekend for people aged 12 and over to receive their first or second dose of the vaccine.

Children aged between 12 and 15 years must attend the centres with a parent or guardian.

The HSE said those who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, can choose to get an mRNA Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as their second dose.