THE GOVERNMENT PRESS Office has confirmed 1,782 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

The Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 met this morning and were informed of today’s case numbers; its members were informed that Donegal, Louth and Galway are showing very high incidence rates of Covid-19.

The Department of Health as confirmed that 189 patients in hospital have tested positive for the coronavirus disease, and a total of 30 people are in intensive care units with the illness.

Yesterday, 1,491 cases of Covid-19 were reported, with 193 patients with the illness in hospital, 28 of whom were in intensive care.

As of Wednesday, there has been a total of 5,044 deaths related to Covid-19 in Ireland. Today’s figures did not contain any information about whether there were any other deaths due to the virus.

Data relating to the number of deaths associated with Covid-19, as well as case numbers by county, have been affected by the cyber attack on the HSE IT systems.

Over 6 million vaccine doses have now been administered, comprising almost 3.2 million first doses and over 2.85 million people fully vaccinated.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “Today and this weekend, the HSE are operating additional walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centres right across the country.

“This time last year, we could not have hoped for such highly safe and effective vaccines to aid us in suppressing this virus, nor that we would in fact have a range of them to use.

“The Covid-19 vaccination programme shows not only the best of scientific endeavour, but also commendable solidarity in those who come forward to receive a vaccine for the good of their wider community.

I strongly encourage anyone still awaiting their Covid-19 vaccine to avail of these vaccination centres this weekend. These vaccines are very effective at protecting against the worst effects of Covid-19.

“Not only do they offer personal protection, but the more of us who receive a vaccine, the safer we all are as a group.”