A further 1,185 COVID cases have been announced this evening.

This morning, there were 292 coronavirus patients in Irish hospitals – a 13% decrease on this day last week.

There were 65 in intensive care – up nine on last week and five on yesterday.

A total of 24 new COVID-related deaths have been announced in the past week, taking the death toll in Ireland to 5,179

The five-day moving average is now 1,212.

The COVID-19 five-day moving average. Image: Newstalk

In a statement, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said the vast majority of those who have died or become seriously ill with the virus since April were unvaccinated.

“COVID-19 vaccines are providing very effective protection from severe illness and have fundamentally changed the risk profile of this disease,” he said.

“Since April 1st, approximately four out of every five people admitted to ICU and approximately three out of every four deaths with COVID-19 were not fully vaccinated.

“It remains vital that those who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine do so at the earliest opportunity.

“If you are fully protected through vaccination, then you can have confidence that your vaccination and your continued adherence to the public health advice appropriate to each environment, is the best way you can protect yourself from COVID-19.”

Restrictions

It comes after the Chief Medical Officer said Ireland is on track to lift COVID-19 restrictions in October.

Speaking at the Oireachtas health committee, Dr Tony Holohan said he cannot rule out measures being reintroduced in the future if a new virus strain was to cause issues.

Despite that, the health official says the country is currently on course to ease restrictions on October 22nd – when most of the remaining restrictions are due to be scrapped.

Dr Holohan also said he expects COVID-19 close contact rules could be relaxed for schoolchildren in the near future.

Currently, all schoolchildren who are close contacts of a confirmed virus case must self-isolate - a situation which has led to an estimated 12,000 children being temporarily out of school.

This may be changed so those symptoms would not have to isolate and Dr Holohan said he hopes new advice will be issued soon.