More than 3,000 people have now died from Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland after an additional 90 virus-related deaths were reported this evening.
928 new cases have also been confirmed, with 6 cases linked to the South African variant.
96,000 cases have been reported so far this month, which is more than all of those recorded in 2020.
Provisional county-by-county data shows 37 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Waterford.
1,108 people have been diagnosed with the virus over the last fortnight in the county. Waterford's 14-day incidence rate is 953.7, its lowest level since the 6th of January. The 5-day moving average of cases in Waterford is 67.
As of midnight, Monday 25th January, the HPSC @hpscireland has been notified of 928 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
There is now a total of 189,851 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Ireland.
For more information, visit https://t.co/RjyC3RrpgD— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) January 26, 2021
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said:
"Today we are reporting a further 90 deaths, bringing our cumulative total of lives lost to COVID-19 to more than 3,000 in Ireland. This highly infectious disease is having a severe impact on the most vulnerable in our society and we must continue the good work we are doing to suppress it.
"The decline in daily incidence of COVID-19 has begun, however, the volume of disease in our communities remains very high. To date, we have reported 96,000 cases in January 2021, which has already passed the total of 93,500 cases reported in 2020. Indeed, public health doctors in the Midlands reported a total of 4,000 cases in the first 8 months of 2020 and another 4,000 cases in the first four weeks of 2021.
"Through our enhanced public health surveillance programme, we have identified 6 additional cases linked to the Southern African variant of concern. All cases are being followed up by public health teams in line with the latest ECDC guidance published on the 21st of January.
"The downturn in incidence has been achieved through the determination of people across the country to stay at home, to work from home and to avoid meeting and socialising with others. It is imperative that everyone continues to strictly adhere to the public health advice to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this highly-infectious disease."
