LATEST: Campaign to urge unvaccinated to get jab, almost 500 now in hospital

A further 1,845 more people have contracted the coronavirus, the Department of Health confirmed this evening.

And there are now 497 patients being treated in hospital for the virus, a rise of 24 on yesterday.

Of these, 99 are receiving intensive care, an increase of two.

The latest figures were confirmed as the head of the Health Service Executive’s Covid-19 vaccination programme said the number of people coming forward for a vaccine has increased from 800-1,000 per day to around 2,000 a day since last Thursday.

Damien McCallion told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland campaign will run over the next ten days to try to encourage those who are unvaccinated against the virus to come forward for a jab.

Mr McCallion said more than 60% of the people in ICU are unvaccinated.