Mixed news on positive Covid numbers at Mayo University Hospital

The number of positive Covid cases in care at Mayo University Hospital (MUH) today has fallen by six to 12 over the past 24 hours

However, nine new confirmed cases were admitted to the Castlebar facility between 8 p.m. yesterday and 8 p.m. on March 17, the highest admission rate for the period in question.

The latest HSE report from the facility was compiled at 8 p.m. yesterday.

MUH's virus figures are now the ninth highest in the country, the list headed by St. James's Hospital, Dublin, with 41.

Galway University Hospital has five positive cases in care, down by one, while Sligo University Hospital has seven, o change.

There are two suspected cases at the Castlebar centre, a drop of four.

The ICU at Mayo University Hospital has one positive care in care after being Covid-free for nine consecutive days.

There are no suspected cases in a hospital ICU n Ireland.

Nationally, the number of hospitalised confirmed cases now stands at 334, a decrease of nine in the past 24 hours.

The number of patients in intensive care units nationally is 83, up by one.

There are two vacant general beds and one vacant critical care bed today at MUH.

Less than five new confirmed cases were identified in Mayo by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre yesterday evening, bringing the total to 117 for the past two weeks.

It leaves the county with a 14-day incidence rate of 89.7 - below the national average of 150.8

Mayo's five-standing moving average is down to 3.