A total of 1,292 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while 331 patients are being treated in hospital.

54 people are in ICU with Covid-19.

The figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this afternoon.

Yesterday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly confirmed that the rollout of the booster vaccine will begin for certain age groups.

The first group to get the booster shot will be residents in long term care facilities.

Those aged 65 and older in these care facilities along with people aged 80 or over living in the community will both get a booster shot of an mRNA vaccine.

This will either be the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or the Moderna.

The rollout is expected to start in the coming weeks.

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