The number of Covid-19 patients in public hospitals has reached a low not seen since the beginning of October.
174 people with the disease were on public wards last night (Wednesday) according to the HSE's daily operations update.
There are also fewer than 50 people in ICU with the virus for the second day in a row - figures show there were 48 patients in critical care overnight.
One of those one in ICU in University Hospital Waterford where there are four patients being cared for with the virus.
While this is an increase of one on the previous day's number of inpatients, it is still half the number that was in the hospital 10 days ago.
The number of patients with Covid-19 in UHW has remained between three and four all week with one patient being cared for in ICU.
On the 21st of January, there were 122 inpatients at UHW with the virus.
The majority of hospitals in the country are now treating fewer than 10 patients with Covid-19.
Most of the hospitals treating more patients than this are in Dublin – Beaumont Hospital is treating 21, the Mater Hospital and St James’s Hospital are treating 17 Covid patients each, and Connolly Hospital is treating 18.
In Munster, University Hospital Limerick is treating 13 patients and CUH has 4 patients.
