THERE ARE NOW fewer than 150 people with Covid-19 receiving treatment in hospital.

Hospitalisation figures have been gradually reducing in recent weeks. As of 8pm yesterday evening, there were 148 Covid-19 patients in hospitals across the country. 

There were 153 Covid patients in hospital at 8am yesterday morning. 

There are 47 people in intensive care. 

The hospitals with the highest numbers of Covid-19 patients last night include Mater Hospital (16), Tallaght Hospital (15) and University Hospital Limerick (14).

Over 1.4 million vaccine doses have been administered so far in Ireland, as of official figures from Monday.

This includes over one million first doses, a figure confirmed by the Taoiseach over the weekend.

Micheál Martin signed up for his Covid-19 vaccine yesterday, saying it took him “just 10 minutes to register”. 

Speaking to Shannonside FM this morning, Martin said Cabinet will be examining a number of areas over the next two days for potential reopening including religious services, personal services like hairdressing and non-essential retail. 

He acknowledged that the virus has “devastated” many sectors of the economy and said the government is conscious that many people, particularly those who own businesses, have “gone through a lot”. 

“It has been a long lockdown, we understand that, but what I said always consistently since this last wave is whatever we open we want to keep open,” he said.

“People in many sectors have said that to me, they don’t want to be closed, reopened and closed again.”

Government yesterday approved recommendations about the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines.

The National Immmunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) advised the use of these vaccines for people aged 50 and over.

The recommendation is also for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson jab to be given to people under 50 if there is no other option available and for hard-to-reach communities.

Until now, the AstraZeneca vaccine was mostly restricted to people aged over 60.

The J&J vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency last month, but it has not yet been used in Ireland.