A record 101 deaths from Covid-19 were announced yesterday evening.

83 of these deaths occurred last month, and 18 over the past 2 days.

Those who died were aged between 19 and 103.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says the high mortality we're experiencing at the moment is related to the surge of infection we saw several weeks ago, and the hospitalisations and admissions to ICU that followed as a direct result.

Although we've seen an improvement in the level of infection being reported, Dr Holohan says we have a long way to go, and incidence needs to decline much further.

He says the best way to honour those who've died from Covid-19 and those who cared for them is to follow the public health advice, and stay at home unless absolutely necessary.

Meanwhile, the number of new cases of  the virus recorded last evening was 879, the lowest number of daily cases so far this year. 

53 of the new cases are in Galway, with 12 in Mayo, 8 in Sligo and less than 5 in both Roscommon and Leitrim.

Mayo remains the only Connacht county with a 14-day incidence rate higher than the national average.

The recent surge in Covid deaths is directly due to restrictions being lifted before Christmas, according to Professor Gabriel Scally.