LATEST: Number of Covid patients in hospital at highest level since March 1

A further 3,578 people have contracted the coronavirus, the Department of Health confirmed today.

And the number of patients being treated for the virus in hospital has risen to 520, up 22 on the yesterday’s figure.

It is the highest number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 since March 1 last.

The number of patients in ICU with Covid-19 is 83, an increase of five on yesterday.

The hospitals with the highest number of Covid-19 cases are St James’s in Dublin with 44, University Hospital Limerick with 37 and the Regional Hospital Mullingar with 33.

There are now only 15 adult ICU beds free in the public system.