A total of 529 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while 86 people are currently being treated in hospital.
28 of these patients are in the ICU.
Earlier this evening, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced a shorter interval between doses for the AstraZeneca vaccine. This follows updated recommendations from NIAC, which have been endorsed by the CMO.
400,000 people awaiting their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will now receive it earlier than planned with the interval being reduced to 8 weeks and phased in, starting with those waiting longest for it.
Elsewhere, increased pressure at Covid-19 swab centres in Limerick has resulted in locals being turned away after the “volatile” spread of the disease.
Politicians are reluctant to enforce a local lockdown and do not want to slow down the reopening of the economy, however, it has not been ruled out yet.
Limerick GPs believe the virus has exploded because of house parties, indoor gatherings and cases that are being traced back to schools.
Dr Tony Holohan, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Mid-West public health officials are meeting virtually with Limerick TDs over the “very concerning” situation.
Dr Ronan Ryder, a Limerick GP has said there has been a “significant increase” in young people presenting with symptoms and said “a lot coming from schools as far as we can see.”
He told RTÉ News that “someone allegedly went to work with symptoms” and a party also resulted in a lot of cases.
He said the “fear factor” has disappeared and appealed to locals to be more vigilant as people are “very blasé” about symptoms.
Elsewhere, Ireland's vaccine rollout could once again see a major overall following the issuing of new advice surrounding the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
The rollout continues to gather pace with around 2.9 million jabs already administered.
And that number is likely to exceed three million by the weekend with more work being done to ramp up the vaccine programmes.
Currently, people aged in their 50s are still receiving their Covid-19 vaccines while the portal for people aged between 40 and 49 is also open.
While around 25% of people in the country are fully vaccinated this number could soon be increased greatly following new advice to reduce the gap between Astra Zeneca vaccines from 12 weeks to 8.
The HSE was recommended to reduce the gap by NIAC this week.
And the revised plan could be implemented within days meaning hundreds of thousands of more people could be fully vaccinated earlier than expected.
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