The World Health Organisation says Ireland has been hit by the 'serious surge' of Covid-19 recently.

The country's five-day moving average has increased by 10 per cent over the past five days, and is now 538.

There was a slight drop yesterday, with 371 new cases and 24 deaths announced.

In this region, there were 25 new Covid cases in Galway, less than 5 cases in both Mayo and Sligo and no new cases in Roscommon or Leitrim.

All Connacht counties have 14-day incidence rates lower than the national average - which is now at 158 per 100,000 people.

However, Offaly, Longford, Kildare, Dublin, Meath, Donegal and Carlow all have 14-day rates higher than the national average.

There were 325 people in public hospitals with the virus last night - with 76 of these patients in intensive care.

Dr David Nabarro, the WHO's special envoy on Covid, says Ireland's situation is concerning.