There's been a 21% decrease in number of Covid patients in public hospitals over the past week

There has been a 21% decrease in the number of Covid-19 patients in public hospitals over the past week.

The figure fell to 371 last night - over 100 fewer than seven days earlier.

The lowest number of new cases since December 14th was also recorded yesterday, at 311.

No new cases were recorded in Cavan and Monaghan.

93 Covid patients are in intensive care - down from the peak of 221 in late January.

But Dr Alan Gaffney, the vice-president of the Intensive Care Society, says ICUs will be busy for some time yet: