LATEST: Big drop in number of Covid patients in hospital
A further 10,414 people have contracted Covid-19, it was confirmed this evening.
The Department of Health confirmed the latest cases, which comprise 5,605 PCR-confirmed cases and 4,809 antigen tests logged to the system.
In the past week there have been 49 coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total number in Ireland to 6,136.
The number of people hospitalised with Covid-19 has fallen further over the past 24 hours to 739 – a reduction of 85 on yesterday.
Hospital numbers have steadily decreased over the course of the past fortnight, falling from a peak of 1,063 since 10 January.
Since this day last week, the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 has fallen by 172. Of those currently being treated in hospital, there are 74 in intensive care, a drop of five on yesterday.
