The number of people with Covid-19 in hospital remains relatively unchanged this morning.
As of 8am, there were 650 patients with the virus being treated in hospital, an increase of one on the same time yesterday.
It compares to a figure of 961 two weeks ago, and 845 on this day last week.
Yesterday’s number was the lowest level since 619 on 30 December; and was almost 40% down from the recent peak of 1,063 patients on 10 January.
There has been a slight increase in the number of people with Covid-19 in intensive care units.
As of 11.30am, 74 people with the virus were being treated in ICU, an increase of eight on the same time yesterday.
The figure had fallen to 66 yesterday, which was the lowest level since 5 October.
Separately, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly yesterday accepted recommendations for the introduction of a new Covid-19 vaccine.
To be used in those aged 18 and older, Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid (known also as NVX-CoV2373) has been granted marketing conditional authorisation by the European Medicines Agency.
As Ireland’s fifth vaccine, recommendations for its use were made by the Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan after he endorsed the view of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
