Today, 269 cases were confirmed.
The latest figures from the Department of Health show that 269 more people have tested positive for Covid-19.
Today marks the first time since mid-December that case numbers have fallen below 300.
It also confirmed that one more patient has died with the virus.
As of 8am today, 181 COVID patients are in hospital, with 47 of those in ICU.
There were 6 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, over 85,000 people between 65 and 69 have registered to get a Covid vaccine so far.
The appointments for people in that cohort to get their jab will start tomorrow.
So far, over 830,000 people have received at least one dose.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer says the decrease in numbers is because of the effort being put in by people to follow guidelines.
"We have already seen the fantastic impact of vaccination amongst our healthcare workers and in our nursing homes," he says.
Adding, "However, the declining incidence across all age groups in recent weeks cannot be attributed to vaccination but rather to the enormous efforts of people across society to keep themselves and their families safe."
