304 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported this evening. 47 coronavirus patients are in hospital, with 13 in intensive care.
210 cases of the Delta variant have been identified in Ireland so far.
The Chief Medical Officer has asked NIAC whether the AstraZeneca vaccine could be given to younger people.
The current advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee is to only administer AstraZeneca jabs to people over the age of 50.
Up to half a million AstraZeneca vaccines could be delivered in August, at a time when the majority of eligible recipients will already be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, 38 per cent of the adult population is now fully vaccinated against covid-19.
3.8 million vaccines have now been administered with one dose given to two-thirds of adults.
For the past two days, 54 thousand vaccines have been administered.
HSE CEO Paul Reid says vaccines are winning, but the fight against covid-19 is not over yet.
