A further 6,284 PCR-confirmed COVID cases have been announced this evening.

Meanwhile, 9,735 people registered positive antigen tests through the HSE portal yesterday.

This morning, there were 1,047 patients with COVID in Irish hospitals – up 244 on this day last week.

There were 42 in intensive care, which is nine fewer than last week.

The five-day moving average. Image: Newstalk

Since PCR testing was restricted for the under-40s in mid-January, the positive antigen test results uploaded to the HSE portal have been reported alongside PCR-confirmed results.

When both are included, the five-day moving average is now 12,769.