New figures have revealed details of the most recent coronavirus outbreaks in Ireland - including an increase in the number of clusters associated with schools.
A cluster or outbreak refers to two or more cases of COVID-19 being confirmed in a setting.
The latest HPSC data shows there were 311 outbreaks reported in the week up until Saturday May 8th.
Over half of those outbreaks - 167 in total - were associated with private houses.
Image: HPSC61 outbreaks were associated with schools - more than double the 29 reported the previous week.
Separate figures from the HSE show mass testing was carried out in 302 schools last week.
A total of 128 cases were identified - a positivity rate of 1.7%.
Most of the cases (96) were identified in primary schools.
Clusters reported in other settings remain low, with just one outbreak in a hospital and one in a nursing home.
Outbreaks in childcare facilities were also down - with seven last week compared to 14 the previous week.
Among vulnerable groups, six outbreaks were reported among Irish Travellers last week.
There was one outbreak in a direct provision centre, one in the Roma community, one among persons with addictions, and one in a prison.
The outbreak data comes amid a continued fall in the five-day moving average of new cases, with the latest figures putting the average at 422.
