Large rise in Covid-19 cases announced this afternoon

The Department of Health has reported 562 new cases of Covid-19.

There are 48 patients being treated in hospital, with 14 in ICU, which is unchanged from yesterday.

Meanwhile Micheal Martin has said there will be another wave of Covid-19 infections, although it will be different to previously.

Speaking on Saturday the Taoiseach said that the country is still facing a race between the vaccines and the more transmissible Delta variant as the jab rollout continues to ramp up.

Mr Martin told reporters: "Every phase of the pandemic is different. If you look at last summer for example and the type of activities that we could or could not do and compare it to this summer it's significantly different.

"Delta does present a challenge. The interesting issue will be the link between volume of cases and hospitalisation," he said.

"We are concerned about it, but that said, we have significant numbers of the population vaccinated, we are going to accelerate that in the coming month, it is a race between the vaccines and the virus.

"There will be a wave, but it will be different in its impact than previous waves."