Nine new cases of Covid-19 in Kilkenny as hospitals report fall in numbers

There were nine new cases of coronavirus recorded in Kilkenny over the weekend, with the figure now at 259 – up from 250 since Friday.

Meanwhile, the testing criteria for GPs to test for Covid-19 has been widened, with patients now only having to show a cough, fever, or shortness of breath, and no other symptoms to be eligible for testing.

The HSE says it now has the for 84,000 tests per week while hospitals have recorded another drop in the number of patients being admitted with confirmed and suspected cases of Covid-19.

There are now a total of 902 patients in hospitals with either confirmed or suspected coronavirus.

The hospitals with the most confirmed cases are in Dublin.

There are 99 cases at the Mater; St James’s Hospital has 73 and Beaumont Hospital has 67 patients with the virus.