Taoiseach Says Covid Strategy Has Worked After New Study

There has been a further 371 new Covid-19 cases and 24 deaths.

151 of the new cases are in Dublin, 31 in Offaly, 27 in Donegal, 25 in Galway and 21 in Meath.

Deputy CMO Dr. Ronan Glynn

Large Gap Between Lowest And Highest Incidence

While the country's 14 day incidence rate per 100,000 population is 158.3.

The county with the lowest rate is Leitrim at 40.6.

However the highest 14 day rate is 443.8, in county Offaly.

357 people are currently in hospital with the virus - a decrease of 2 since yesterday.

While 76 are in ICU - a drop of 5.

NEW: Walk-in PCR testing is set to be introduced in certain areas where COVID rates remain high

— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 23, 2021

A recent study of 18 countries found Ireland had the third-lowest rate of Covid hospitalisations in mid-March.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin says this shows the government’s approach has been successful.

He says it has worked "because numbers have come dramatically down."

Adding to that, he thinks Ireland is the third lowest in terms of incidence rates in the European Union.

But he says it's still too high, "principally because of the variant."

Finally the Taoiseach says the Government has fulfilled what it set out to do, in terms of schools.