LATEST: Hospital Covid numbers fall to lowest level in nine weeks as NPHET calls for pubs to shut at 5pm

A further 3,628 people have contracted Covid-19, the Department of Health confirmed this evening.

And there are now 420 people in hospital who have tested positive for Covid-19, down 23 from yesterday.

This is the lowest figure in almost nine weeks since mid-October, when there were 406 people in hospital with the virus. It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin this evening prepares to announce further restrictions after NPHET’s advice to shut pubs and restaurants at 5pm.

Of those curently in hospital, 105 are being treated in intensive care units, a drop of three from yesterday.