LATEST: Kilkenny among 525 new cases of virus as nine further deaths confirmed

There have been a further nine deaths recorded from people contracting the coronavirus as 525 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening.

The overall death toll as a result of the virus has now reached 4,585. There have now been 229,831 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country, according to the latest daily briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

266 of the new cases are in Dublin, with 33 in Meath, 29 in Wexford, 25 in Offaly and 24 in Donegal. The remaining 148 cases are spread across 19 other counties, once again less than five cases were recorded in Kilkenny.

At 8am today, 328 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 83 are in ICU.

As of Wednesday 17 March there were 639,586 doses of Covid-19 vaccine administered.

468,328 people have received at least one dose and 171,258 have also received their second dose.