The number of people with Covid-19 in hospital has fallen to the lowest level this year. There were 610 patients with the virus being treated in hospital as of 8am, which is a reduction of 20 since the same time yesterday.
This compares to a figure of 896 on this day two weeks ago and 708 last Thursday. Today's number represents the lowest level since 29 December, when there were 568 people with Covid in hospital.
The figure is also almost 43% down from the recent peak of 1,063 patients on 10 January. As of yesterday, there were 65 people with the virus being treated in intensive care units, which represented the lowest level in ICU since 5 October. Latest Coronavirus stories A reduction in testing for Covid-19 is under discussion and a consensus will be reached on the way forward, Professor Martin Cormican, HSE Clinical Lead on Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, has said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said the decision will take account of risks and uncertainties around Covid infection.