The number of people being treated for COVID-19 in Irish hospitals dropped to 99 last night.
It's the first time the number has fallen below 100 since September 24th.
The number of people in intensive care is 36.
Chart of the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital. Image: HSEHSE CEO Paul Reid said it was great to see the numbers drop.
He said: "[It's] a clear demonstration that the vaccination programme has for now broken the link from daily cases to sickness, hospitalisations, ICU and mortality."
The figures were released last night, on the same day that the two millionth COVID-19 vaccination dose was set to be administered in Ireland.
More than 37% of the adult population has now received at least one dose.
Speaking on Breakfast Briefing, DCU Professor of Health Systems Anthony Staines said the rollout is going "fantastically well".
He said: "It's a triumph for the HSE, that they've managed to set up this programme from nowhere.
"They've used every piece of supply we got. The supply problems we had originally - which were not under their control - really appear to be beaten."
He said the rollout is having a huge impact, including the decrease in the number of hospitalisations.
Professor Staines said there still is a high number of daily cases, but mandatory hotel quarantine appears to be holding back vaccinations.
He said he'd be happier if the daily numbers were going down steadily, but the country should 'do OK' if the numbers remain stable while the vaccine rollout is continuing.
There were 456 new cases of coronavirus confirmed yesterday.
The five-day average of new cases currently stands at 435 - a slight increase compared to recent days.
The Five-Day Moving Average. Image: Newstalk
