LATEST: Concern as 5,634 new cases of virus confirmed

A futher 5,634 people have ocntracted Covid-19, the Department of Heath ocnfirmed this evening.

And there are now 684 patients being treated in hospital for the vrius, an increase of 16.

Of these, 126 patients are being treated in ICU, up one since yesterday.

The latest figures were confirmed as Chief  Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan earlier said the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), which is due to meet again on Thursday, is “unlikely” there will be  significant changes to the restrictions introduced last week.