Coronavirus figures continue to decline

On Friday, 4,931 new covid cases were reported by the Health Ministry and 6.7pc positive tests – continuing the slow downward infection trend of the past week. The number of serious cases in hospital was a steady 1,002 with 315 on ventilators. The government’s target of 4 million recipients of both vaccine shots for a broad reopening of trading, schools, gyms and live sporting and entertainment events, is still far off; 3,781 have so far received their first jabs and 2,416 – both. The health ministry is going all out to expand the public response.