Another milestone has been reached over the bank holiday weekend with three million Covid-19 vaccine doses now administered.

It comes as the number of people in intensive care with Covid-19 fell to 27 yesterday in advance of more restrictions being lifted from today. 

More than half of the adult population has now had one dose of the vaccine.

The vaccination online portal for 40-year-olds also opened yesterday. 

The latest Covid-19 figures showed that there were 313 new cases of Covid-19 reported by the Department of Health yesterday.

There were 70 people in hospitals, of whom 27 were in intensive care units. It represented a drop in figures from Saturday when there were 416 Covid-19 cases reported, with 74 people in hospital and 29 in intensive care units. 

The Department of Health has continued to urge people to socialise safely over the bank holiday weekend, by meeting outdoors, keeping groups small and avoiding large crowds.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, who received his Covid-19 vaccine jab in Greystones on Saturday, confirmed that over the course of the bank holiday weekend, “we are hitting three million vaccine doses administered”.

In a video address, Mr Donnelly said all workers involved in the vaccination programme deserved “huge praise”.

"We have had a huge response from everyone who is eligible for a vaccine so far. 

"For everybody who isn't yet eligible, let me promise you, let me assure you that we are doing everything we can to make sure that you get an option for a vaccine as soon as possible. We are getting them out the doors as soon as they come in,” he said.

Separately, new figures supplied to the Irish Independent by the Department of Social Protection show that 87 employers have contacted a support line set up for those having difficulties with staff not returning to work who are receiving Pandemic Unemployment Payments (PUP). 

The payment was established for employees and self-employed people who lost their employment due to the Covid-19 emergency. 

The department has a support line for employers having difficulties with staff not returning to work who are receiving the PUP.

“Employers can email to C19employerreports@welfare.ie, details of any staff members, who have been offered a return to work, and who have refused that offer. The department will investigate each case fully to ensure that only those who meet the qualifying conditions for PUP remain in payment,” a statement from the department said.

It said since the easing of restrictions, 87 employers have contacted its support line.

"The department is examining these cases individually and will take the appropriate steps depending on the circumstances of the particular case.”

Over the last number of weeks some 150,000 people have closed their PUP claim and returned to work.

"As further sectors reopen over the coming weeks the evidence to date is that people want to work, and the numbers on PUP should continue to reduce accordingly,” the department added.​​​​​​

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