A further 448 COVID cases have been reported this evening alongside eight more deaths.

It takes the death toll to 4,937 and the national case total to 254,013.

Three of the deaths happened in March, two happened in February and three happened in “January or earlier.”

This morning, there were 109 COVID-19 patients in Irish hospitals – a 20.5% decrease on this day last week.

There were 34 in intensive care, three fewer than last week.

The Five-Day moving average now stands at 425.

The Five-Day moving average in Ireland. Image: Newstalk

Of the cases announced this evening, 229 were in Dublin, with 38 in Meath, 35 in Kildare, 34 in Cork, 16 in Limerick and the rest spread across 16 other counties.

The 14-day incidence now stands at 129.7 cases per 100,000 people.

Kildare now has the highest rate in the country at 251.7, overtaking Donegal which has dropped to 240.6.

Eight counties now have rates between 100 and 200.

The 14-day incidence in Ireland. Image: Department of Health

As of Monday, 1,882,635 vaccine doses had been administered in Ireland.

Some 1,376,583 people had received their first dose, around 36.5% of the adult population.