No new deaths related to Covid-19 reported in Ireland, 575 new cases

"We must not lose sight of the danger that Covid-19 continues to pose."

There have been no new deaths reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today. The HPSC has been notified of an additional 575 cases of Covid-19. As of 8am today, 360 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 85 are in ICU. There have been 25 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of March 12, 606,904 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:

• 443,092 people have received their first dose
• 163,812 people have received their second dose

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: “While there has been a very understandable focus on the vaccine programme over recent days, we must not lose sight of the danger that Covid-19 continues to pose. "While, in time, vaccines will have a very significant positive impact on Covid, they will not stop a further wave of disease over the coming weeks. We are seeing this play out across Europe with many countries now experiencing pressure on their hospital and critical care capacities. We must not let this happen here.” “Together, we have done an extraordinary job of driving down incidence of disease. These efforts are cause for real hope and, if we can return to decreasing indicators of disease, we can continue to protect our loved ones and look forward to much brighter days ahead.”