100,000 people have tested positive for Covid-19 this month - which is more than in all of last year.

That landmark was reached last night after 1,254 new cases were confirmed, along with 48 deaths.

In this region there are 45 new cases in Galway, 13 in Mayo, twelve in Sligo, eight in Roscommon and less than five in Leitrim.

There are 1,488 patients in hospital with the virus, which includes 210 in intensive care.

There are over 400 fewer people in hospital with the disease now than ten days ago.

But Dr David Menzies, a consultant in emergency medicine in Dublin, says the level of hospitalisations remains very concerning.