It's an increase of 30 on yesterday.
There were 1,425 patients with Covid in hospitals across the country at 8 am this morning, an increase of 30 from yesterday.
However there has been a slight drop in the numbers in ICU with Covid, down 2 from 55 yesterday to 53 today.
Meanwhile, 23,155 new cases of Covid19 have been confirmed today.
There are 8,910 PCR-confirmed cases, while 14,215 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
Covid should be considered as a 'severe flu' that will be with us for a long time, according to a leading immunologist.
It comes as the high numbers of covid cases and staff absences impact the health service.
Trinity College Dublin Professor Luke O Neill says covid will be with us for some time to come:
Spokesperson for the Kildare Faculty of the ICGP, Newbridge GP Brendan O' Shea spoke on Thursday's Kildare Today With Clem Ryan, he encouraged people to get vaccinated:

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