LATEST: 57 new cases of virus as level of infections in Ireland surpasses UK

There has been no further coronavirus related deaths but 57 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening.
It means the overall number of deaths as a result of the virus remains at 1,772. There are now 26,768 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the country, according to the latest daily briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
No new infections were detected in Waterford, where the number of cases remains at just 166 – the lowest level in the entire country.
The latest infections nationally were confirmed as it emerged there are now more cases of the virus in Ireland per 100,000 than in the UK.
Figures released today by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) reveals Ireland’s infection rate currently stands at 16.9 cases per 100,000, while the UK’s rate is 16.5.
The increase reflects the significant spike in Covid-19 cases over the past week.