There have been 1,818 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Ireland this evening by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
The Department of Health says there are now 244 people in hospital, with 52 of those in ICU.
The figures mark a decrease on Wednesday's hospital numbers, when 249 patients were being treated for the virus, of which 54 were in ICU.
It comes as 6.5 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Ireland to date.
Some 84% of adults are now fully vaccinated, while more than 90% have received at least one dose of the jab.
The CEO of the HSE Paul Reid said: "The vaccines continue to reduce illness, hospitalisation, admittance to ICU and mortality. But please continue to take caution as the virus is still hugely prevalent."
Meanwhile, it has emerged that there will be no further easing of Covid restrictions until later in September.
One of the reasons given at a meeting of ministers on Thursday was that “we are naturally social people in Ireland” and this has driven higher case numbers.
It was decided at the crunch Cabinet subcommittee on Covid that Ireland’s winter plan and last roadmap out of lockdown will be published on Tuesday week, August 31.
This will follow a meeting of the medical experts of NPHET next Wednesday morning, followed by another Cabinet subcommittee on Covid next Friday, August 27.
It is understood that officials will then work through the plan ahead of the big Tuesday announcement.
Sources have told the Mirror that the Government will take the next week to look at how we will deal with “the next stage of pandemic from September and through the winter.”
The Government is now not looking at any further easing of restrictions until “later in September.”
