LATEST: Kilkenny among 575 new cases of virus, no further deaths confirmed
No new coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded but 575 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening.
The overall death toll as a result of the virus has now reached 4,534. There have now been 227,316 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country, according to the latest daily briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
The breakdown of the latest cases is as follows: 232 in Dublin, 48 in Meath, 41 in Tipperary, 38 in Kildare, 30 in Galway and the remaining 186 cases are spread across 20 other counties, inckuding less than five further infections in Kilkenny.
As of 8am today, 360 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 85 are in ICU. 25 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Commenting on today’s figures, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “While there has been a very understandable focus on the vaccine programme over recent days, we must not lose sight of the danger that COVID-19 continues to pose.
“While, in time, vaccines will have a very significant positive impact on COVID, they will not stop a further wave of disease over the coming weeks.
“We are seeing this play out across Europe with many countries now experiencing pressure on their hospital and critical care capacities. We must not let this happen here.”
“Together, we have done an extraordinary job of driving down incidence of disease. These efforts are cause for real hope,” Dr Glynn concluded.
