LATEST: 43 further deaths from virus as Minister confirms booster jabs

A further 1,545 people have contracted Covid-19, the Department of Health confirmed this evening.

And the number of people currently being treated for the virus in hospital now stands at 335, a drop of 32 since yesterday. Of these, 56 are in intensive care units, a decrease of three.

Meanwhile, it was also confirmed there has now been a total of 5,155 deaths related to Covid-19 notified in Ireland. This includes 43 deaths notified in the past week.

The latest figures come as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced that residents over the age of 65 living in residential care facilities and people aged 80 and over are set to receive a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine.

Commenting on today’s figures, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan said: “Overall the incidence of Covid-19 infection is declining across the country, the five day moving average is 1,407 and we see a stabilisation of ICU and hospital admissions.”