The head of the HSE has warned that intensive care units across the country will remain close to their limits for some time yet.

Paul Reid says the number of people with Covid-19 in hospital has fallen to 1,488.

There are 65 patients with the virus at Mayo University Hospital- down 7, 63 in Galway- down 7, 43 in Sligo- down 3 and 6 at the Portiuncula.

Of those 18 were on critical care beds in Galway, and there were 4 each in Mayo, Sligo and the Portiuncula.

There are 210 patients in ICU - which is 35 per cent higher than the peak of the first wave last spring.