1,491 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Ireland today.
The five-day moving average of new cases now stands at 1,254 - a slight rise compared to yesterday.
The latest figures from the HSE show a further rise in the number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 - now up to 193, compared to 187 yesterday.
However, the number of patients in intensive care has dropped from 30 to 28.
Meanwhile, figures released earlier today showed nearly 81% of people aged over 16 have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Ireland's vaccine programme continues to motor along.
Latest HSE stats on uptake by age group: (1st doses as of August 4)
💉 18 - 29: 73%
💉 30 - 39: 84%
💉 40 - 49: 90%
💉 50 - 59: 94%
💉 60 - 69: 96%
💉 70 - 79: 99%
💉 80+: 99%— Paul O'Donoghue (@paulodonoghue93) August 5, 2021
Vaccine registration is now expected to open to people aged 12-15 next Thursday.
Chief Medical Dr Tony Holohan today said vaccination "offers a real way out of this pandemic".
He said: "The positive news is that take-up in Ireland is extremely high, which shows people understand the benefits for themselves and for their communities of getting vaccinated.
"Those with at least a first dose in the over 40s is over 90%, in the over 30s it is 84%, in the 18 to 29 year age group it is over 73%, and in the 16-17 year age group, it is over 46%.
"These figures continue to increase, and each person who has come forward should be commended."
He said it's understandable that some people become tired of COVID-19 after over a year of the pandemic.
However, he said: "The virus does not become tired.
"It doesn’t care if we are fed up, it only sees the opportunity to spread from person to person when we let our guard down."
