A further 434 new coronavirus cases have been announced alongside and one more virus-related death.

It takes the death toll in Ireland to 4,867 and the national case total to 245,743.

This morning there were 166 COVID-19 patients in Irish hospitals – a 12.5% decrease on this day last week.

There were 48 in intensive care, which is five fewer than last week.

The five-day moving average in Ireland now stands at 448.

The five-day moving average in Ireland. Image: Newstalk

Of the cases announced this evening, some 217 were in Dublin, with 30 in Kildare, 30 in Cork, 27 in Limerick, 21 in Donegal and the remaining 109 spread across 20 other counties.

The 14-day rate of the virus now stands at 117.4 cases per 100,000 people. The seven-day incidence is 61.5.

Donegal remains the hardest-hit county in Ireland at 251.3 cases per 100,000 and there are now three counties above 200.

There are now nine counties with rates between 100 and 200.

Ireland's 14-day coronavirus rate. Image: Department of Health

On Wednesday, the country passed the 1.25 million vaccine doses milestone.

A total of 1,275,828 had been administered - 904,774 people had received their first doses and 371,054 had received their second.

Of the 113,182 tests carried out in the past week, some 2.8% came back positive.