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The Health Department has been notified of one more coronavirus-related death and 539 new cases.
In a statement, the National Public Health Emergency Team said there have been a total of 4,667 coronavirus-related deaths in Ireland and 235,078 confirmed cases.
Of the current cases, 288 are men and 249 are women, with 73% under 45 years of age, while the average age is 32 years.
There were 19 additional hospitalizations in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of patients with the virus to 331.
There are 70 people who are being treated in intensive care.
NPHET said the majority of the new cases, 262, were reported in Dublin.
He said interim data reports 32 cases in Kildare, 30 in Westmeath, 26 in Galway, 21 in Meath, 21 in Offaly, and the remaining 147 cases are spread across 20 other counties.
The 14-day incidence rate of the virus is now 163.7 per 100,000 population.
The counties with the highest infection rate are Offaly (455.4), Donegal (282) and Dublin (248.9).
The counties with the lowest infection rate are Kerry (31.8), Cork (40.9), and Monaghan (45.6).
Until last Friday, March 26, 786,569 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered.
NPHET said 567,023 people have received their first dose of vaccine, while 219,546 people have received their second dose.
Meanwhile, NPHET will soon deliver its advice to the special Cabinet Covid-19 subcommittee, which is meeting tonight.
Tomorrow, the Government will make a decision on reducing some Covid-19 restrictions starting next month.
Amid concerns about the virus’s rising rate, there is still an expectation that some of the more severe Tier 5 restrictions could be altered.
Separately, a Dublin-based GP and member of GP’s national HSE advisory team, Dr Ray Walley, said the most important approach to getting out of the pandemic is “definitely” vaccines.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, he said that an increase in social interactions has led to an increase in the number of cases.
He said the focus should be on vaccinating people as quickly as possible and keeping disease levels down.
“And gradually, with the guidance of NPHET and the Government, we can gradually open up,” he said.
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