61 new cases of Covid-19 in Kildare today

The total official number of confirmed Laois cases up to February 19 is 3045. Residents 65 and older represent 71% of the reported deaths even though they make up just 15% of the new cases. That is well above the national average which now stands at 250.2 cases per 100,000. Whatever the result of the test, you must complete the 14 day period of quarantine.

Speaking to On The Record with Gavan Reilly, Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of the HSE's National Immunisation Office, sought to reassure people who may be concerned about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against the latest strain from Brazil.

The Los Angeles Department of Public Health has confirmed two additional cases of the United Kingdom variant of COVID-19, totaling 14 total cases in LA County. There is now a total of 214,378* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland (*denotification of 10 confirmed cases).

In its latest update this afternoon, Northern Ireland's Department of Health said that three more people have died with Covid-19.

Of the cases notified today the median age is 32 years old. 24 of these deaths occurred in February, 1 in January and 1 in October. The age ranges of the deceased are two 70-79 years and two in the 80-plus years category.

Data from 8am on Saturday note that 149 of the 719 COVID-19 patients hospitalised are receiving critical care. 36 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. 378 are in Dublin, 68 in Galway, 61 in Kildare, 47 in Limerick, 45 in Louth and the remaining 389 cases are spread across all other counties.

Although research has indicated that vaccines on the market remain effective against the B.1.1.7 variant, some officials have expressed fears its contagiousness could fuel another surge, particularly if a comprehensive vaccination campaign is slow to roll out and people become worn out and disregard public safety rules.