A further 1,181 COVID cases have been announced this evening.

This morning there were 309 coronavirus patients in hospital – a 16% decrease on this day last week.

There were 60 in intensive care – up one on last week.

The five-day moving average has fallen to 1,298.

The five-day moving average. Image: Newstalk

It comes as the Chief Medical Officer prepares to warn TDs that the vaccine programme alone will not be capable of supressing the Delta variant over winter.

In his submission to the Oireachtas Health Committee tomorrow morning, Dr Tony Holohan will warn that Ireland will depend on “public understanding and buy-in to the basic public health measures” to keep the virus in check.

He will also warn that NPHET “cannot fully rule out” the re-introduction of public health restrictions in the future.