LATEST: Green light for Covid pill as almost 10,000 new cases of virus confirmed
A further 9,938 people have contracted Covid-19, according to latest daily figures.
The Department of Health this evening annoucned 5,265 PCR-confirmed cases of the virus, along with 4,673 who registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
As of 8am today, 708 Covid-19 patients are being treated in hospital, of which 71 are in ICU.
The latest cases were confirmed as it emerged today that the European Union’s drug regulator has conditionally approved the use of Pfizer Inc’s antiviral Covid-19 pill for treating adults at risk of severe illness.
The endorsement by the European Medicines Agency will allow EU member states to deploy the drug, branded as Paxlovid, after the regulator gave guidance for its emergency use late last year.
