A further 311 coronavirus cases have been announced this evening, alongside 30 further deaths.

Health officials said 12 of the deaths happened this month, with 13 in February, four in January and one still under investigation.

It takes the death toll in Ireland to 4,452 and the national case total to 223,957.

Of the cases announced this evening, 135 were in Dublin, with 29 in Kildare, 21 in Cork, 18 in Limerick, 14 in Louth and the rest spread across 16 other counties.

This morning, there were 397 COVID-19 patients in Irish hospitals, with 95 in intensive care.

The 14-day rate of the coronavirus in Ireland. Image: Department of Health

The 14-day rate of the virus in Ireland now stands at 161.3 cases per 100,000 people.

Longford still has the highest rate in the country at 403.7, with six other counties reporting rates higher than 200.

Vaccine administration figures Ireland. Image: Department of Health

As of Saturday, a total of 523,069 vaccine doses had been administered in Ireland.

Some 149,920 people were fully vaccinated, while, 373,149 had received their first dose.

Of the 96,254 COVID-19 tests carried out in the past week, some 3.8% came back positive.