LATEST: No new cases of virus in Kilkenny, 10 further deaths and 646 infections nationwide

A further 10 people have died after contracting the coronavirus as 646 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening.

Kilkenny recorded no new cases over the past 24 hours. despite a rise in cases nationally. This is the second time in a month no new cases have been reported locally.

The overall death toll as a result of the virus has now reached 4,518. There have now been 225,820 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: 243 are in Dublin, 80 in Kildare, 45 in Meath, 35 in Galway, 34 in Offaly with the remaining 209 cases are spread across 20 other counties.

As of 8am today, 344 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 87 are in ICU. There have been 16 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.