A further 1,499 COVID cases have been announced this afternoon.

This morning, 300 coronavirus patients were being treated in Irish hospitals – up 14 on this day last week.

There were 63 in intensive care, which is the same number as last week.

The five-day moving average has increased to 1301.

The five-day moving average. Image: Newstalk

It comes after parents sharing information about COVID-positive children in school WhatsApp groups were warned they could be sued under GDPR legislation.

It comes after the HSE warned parents that discussing a child’s COVID status on school WhatsApp groups is a breach of their confidentiality under data protection legislation.

Since yesterday, children aged 12 and under no longer need to restrict their movements when they are close contacts of another schoolchild, unless they are experiencing symptoms of the virus.

The change saw around 10,000 children who were absent from school under the old rules returning.