A further 980 PCR-confirmed COVID cases have been announced this afternoon.

Meanwhile, 1,020 people registered positive antigen test results through the HSE portal yesterday.

This morning, there were 378 patients with COVID in hospital – down 34 on yesterday and 221 on this day last week.

There were 39 in hospital, the same figure as last week.

In a statement, the Department of Health said it will stop publishing daily COVID figures from today.

The five-day moving average. Image: Newstalk

Since PCR testing was restricted for the under-40s in mid-January, the National Public health Emergency Team (NPHET) has reported positive antigen test results uploaded to the HSE portal alongside PCR-confirmed results.

When both are included, the five-day moving average is now 2,352.