A further 1,345 COVID cases have been reported this evening.

Last night, there were 141 people in hospital with the virus – an increase of 40 on this day last week.

There were 25 in intensive care – up five on last week.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn noted that 87% of the cases being announced this evening are in people aged less than 45-years-old.

He warned anyone who is still waiting on their first or second vaccine dose to “continue to protect yourself by following public health advice.”

The five-day moving average is now 1,278.

The five-day moving average. Image: Newstalk

It comes as the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed that people aged 16 and 17-years-old will be able to register for a COVID-19 vaccine from tomorrow.

Announcing the move this evening, the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said it is “important that we continue to get as many of our population vaccinated as soon as vaccines are available and following the safety advice of our experts.”

It comes after the Taoiseach insisted that schools would reopen as planned at the end of next month.

Micheál Martin said the Government was fully committed to reopening and noted that the vaccine rollout “helps enormously on that front.”