There have been 465 new COVID cases reported this evening.

Last night, there were 84 coronavirus patients in Irish hospitals – a 16.8% decrease on this day last week.

There were 30 in intensive care – down nine on last week.

The HSE continues to be impacted by the cyberattack and the case number may change due to future data review, validation and update.

The Five-Day moving average is now 392.

The Five-Day Moving Average. Image: Newstalk

It comes after the HSE confirmed that one-quarter of the adult population has now been fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, just over half the adult population has been given a first dose.

It comes amid optimism that new Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) advice will significantly speed up the vaccine rollout.

A HIQA report on COVID-19 immunity found that people who have had the virus can be presumed to be immune from re-infection for nine months as opposed to six.

It means people under the age of 50 who have had the virus in the last nine months may only need one dose of a vaccine.

Meanwhile, the HSE is considering reducing the weeks between doses of the AstraZeneca jab from 12 to eight.

IN other news, Trinity Professor Luke O’Neill has again said there is “no reason” why people who got Astrazeneca for their first dose cannot now be offered Pfizer for their second.