COVID-19: 437 New Cases And One More Death

Health officials have announced a further 437 coronavirus cases and one more death.

It takes the death toll in Ireland to 4,874 and the national case total to 247,069.

This morning there were 184 COVID-19 patients in Irish hospitals and 46 in intensive care.

The five-day moving average is now 475.

22/03/2021 Covid-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus), Ireland. Day 362 since start of lockdown. Day 82 of return to Level 5 restrictions. Two girls sitting on a park bench in front of social distancing two meter sign in Stephens Green in Dublin. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said one quarter of eligible adults have now received at least one dose of the vaccine.

“In order to protect the vital work of the vaccination programme in offering us all protection from COVID-19, it is important we continue to remain vigilant and careful.

“Right now, we need to protect the progress we have made together.

“While we should remain cautious, we can also be cautiously optimistic.

“Our vaccination programme, alongside the continued commendable adherence of the vast majority of people in Ireland to the public health advice, are the key to exiting this pandemic in the coming months.

“However, doing things like mixing indoors when disease is still circulating at a high level puts our progress at risk. Please continue to act in the best interests of one another and be safe when socialising.”

A total of 1,385,753 vaccine doses have now been administered in Ireland – 987,681 first doses and 398,072 second doses.

The 14-day coronavirus rate in Ireland. Image: Department of Health

The 14-day rate is now 121 cases per 100,00 people.

Donegal continues to have the highest rate in Ireland at 288.3, with Kildare in second at 209.9.

There are now ten counties with rates between 100 and 200.

Of the cases announced this evening, 169 were in Dublin, with 62 in Donegal, 40 in Kildare, 29 in Meath, 21 in Galway and the rest spread across 17 other counties.

Of the 118,266 tests carried out in the past week, 2.8% came back positive.