There have been a further 1,456 new cases of COVID-19 in Ireland today.

The five-day moving average of new cases now stands at 1,325 - a slight increase compared to recent days, but a decrease compared to 1,479 this day last week.

The latest HSE figures show there are 261 patients in hospital with the virus.

That includes 66 patients in intensive care.

Earlier, HSE CEO Paul Reid says the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital has fallen in recent days.

However, he said there has been a rise in ICU figures - noting that there’s now a “hugely disproportionate number of unvaccinated patients”.

Main image: File photo of COVID-19 testing being carried out. Photo by Amy Beth Bennett/Sun Sentinel/TNS/Sipa USA