LATEST: Almost 1,500 new cases of virus as 100,000 12-15 year olds register for vaccine

A further 1,496 more people have contected the coronavirus, the Department of Health confirmed this evening.

The number of people with the virus in hospital has fallen by 14 to 248. There are 54 patients in intensive care, down three on yesterday.

The latest figures comes as Health Service Executive (HSE) chief executive Paul Reid confirmed more than 6.4 million vaccines have now been administered, with 82% of adults fully vaccinated and 90% partially vaccinated.

Mr Reid tweeted there continues to be “great progress” on the vaccination of 12-15 year-olds. The HSE boss confirmed almost 100,000 people now have registered for a vaccine and 47,000 have been administered.