The total number of confirmed Covid-19 infections to date in Ireland will surpass 50,000 today as the number of cases continues to soar.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 infections to date in Ireland will surpass 50,000 today as the number of cases continues to soar.
A total of 1,283 new cases were confirmed yesterday bringing the total number of infections to date to 49,962.
Almost a quarter of all those cases have occurred within the past two weeks alone.
The official figures also show that a total of 290 people were being treated for Covid-19 in hospitals last night, according to the latest Daily Operations Update from the HSE.
This was up from 262 patients on Saturday night.
It is also 34% higher than the numbers in hospital with Covid-19 just one week ago when the total was 216.
It also compares with just 75 patients being treated for Covid-19 on the same date last month.
The figures also show a total of 31 confirmed Covid-19 patients are being treated in intensive care in hospital, as well as another seven patients suspected to have Covid-19.
The figures show 14 of those patients are being cared for in Dublin hospitals, including one patient in intensive care in the privately run Beacon Hospital.
There are also three patients in intensive care in University Hospital Kerry, two in Letterkenny, and two in Cork University Hospital.
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Overall, Cavan General Hospital has a total of 33 general Covid-19 patients, the largest number in the country.
This is followed by 24 Covid-19 patients in Tallaght, 23 in Cork University Hospital, 16 in Letterkenny University Hospital, and 15 in University Hospital Kerry.
The latest figures show that the 14-day incidence of the disease is highest in Cavan at 807.3 cases per 100,000 people, and lowest in Co Tipperary at 109.1 cases.
The second highest 14-day incidence is now in Co Meath with 488.6 cases per 100,000 people, an increase in incidence rate of almost 150% in just one week.
The national average 14-day incidence rate of the disease is now 251 per 100,000, up 50% in one week.
Although the 14-day incidence of the disease in Dublin has risen by 25% over the past week, at 224.6 cases per 100,000 people Dublin is now below the national average.
In all, 14 counties now have a higher disease incidence rate than Dublin.
Apart from Cavan and Meath, they are Monaghan, Donegal, Clare, Sligo, Westmeath, Cork, Galway, Wexford, Limerick, Kildare, Longford and Leitrim.