More than 3,000 people have now died from COVID-19 in Ireland, after an additional 90 virus related deaths were reported this evening.
928 new cases have also been confirmed, with six cases linked to the South African variant.
Some 96,000 cases have been reported so far this month, which is more than all of those recorded in 2020.
Of the cases notified today:
- 418 are men / 506 are women
- 50% are under 45 years of age
- The median age is 44 years old
Some 257 cases are in Dublin, 115 in Cork, 71 in Louth, 53 in Galway and 45 in Limerick.
The remaining 387 cases are spread across all other counties.
As of 2.00pm, 1,750 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised - of which 216 are in ICU.
There have ben 65 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said: "Today we are reporting a further 90 deaths, bringing our cumulative total of lives lost to COVID-19 to more than 3,000 in Ireland.
"This highly infectious disease is having a severe impact on the most vulnerable in our society and we must continue the good work we are doing to suppress it."
He added: "The decline in daily incidence of COVID-19 has begun, however the volume of disease in our communities remains very high.
"To date we have reported 96,000 cases in January 2021, which has already passed the total of 93,500 cases reported in 2020.
"Indeed, public health doctors in the Midlands reported a total of 4,000 cases in the first eight months of 2020 and another 4,000 cases in the first four weeks of 2021.
"Through our enhanced public health surveillance programme, we have identified six additional cases linked to the Southern African variant of concern.
"All cases are being followed up by public health teams in line with the latest ECDC guidance published on the 21st January."
"The downturn in incidence has been achieved through the determination of people across the country to stay at home, to work from home and to avoid meeting and socialising with others.
"It is imperative that everyone continues to strictly adhere to the public health advice to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this highly-infectious disease."
He was speaking after the Government extended level five coronavirus restrictions until March 5th.
