The number of Covid-19 patients in public hospitals has fallen to its lowest level since December 29th.

It dropped to 427 last night - compared to 1,239 on the same day last month.

There are 105 patients in intensive care with the virus, continuing a fall from the peak of 221 in January.

Another 462 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed yesterday, along with 39 additional deaths.

There were 18 new cases confirmed in Galway, 14 in Mayo, 6 in Roscommon and less than 5 in both Sligo and Leitrim.

Professor Philip Nolan, who chairs NPHET's modelling group, says the country's R number remains below 1.