A bit of positive news.
Ireland’s Covid hospital numbers have fallen below the peak of the first wave for the first time since 5 January.
The number of patients in hospitals last night (849) fell below the peak of the initial wave of Covid-19, which was 881 on 15 April, 2020.
The number of Covid patients in ICUs across the country is now at 158, which is slightly more than the peak from the first wave (155 on 10 April).
St James’s Hospital in Dublin is currently dealing with 100 Covid cases, the Mater is dealing with 75 cases and 72 cases at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.
Ireland’s Covid vaccination figures were also updated, with 176,926 people having received a first dose as of Saturday (13 February).
91,625 people across the country have received a second dose.
Meanwhile, the vaccination programme for patients aged 85 years and older is getting under way in a number of GP practices.
Local GP practices will now be administering Covid-19 vaccines, as will 40 vaccination centres around Ireland.
Approximately 12,000 first doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine will be administered to people in the over 85 group at 84 GP practices across 20 counties.
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