53 of the COVID-19 patients admitted to Ireland's intensive care units to date have since been discharged.

The latest figures from the Department of Health show there are now over 6,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Republic.

As of midnight on Monday, 25% of patients who been diagnosed with the virus had been hospitalised - and over 200 had been admitted to intensive care.

During this evening's press briefing, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan gave an update on the number of patients in the country's ICUs.

He said: “Of 227 admissions to intensive care to date, 147 remain hospitalised in intensive care.

“53 people have been discharged out of that [overall] number, and 27 have died out of that number of 227.

"80% of them - or 181 - we have reports of an underlying medical condition, and the median age of ICU is 61.”

Dr Holohan stressed that the majority of people who contract the virus are recovering.

Earlier, the Mater Hospital in Dublin confirmed that its intensive care unit was full.

Patients who have been ventilated are being removed to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and other wards are also being made available for critically ill patients.

The president of the Intensive Care Society of Ireland (ISCI) has warned that some critical care units are under pressure, particularly in Dublin.

Dr Catherine Motherway yesterday said there is capacity in the system and 'surge plans' have been prepared to help hospitals manage any surge in cases.