Risk index at 71, reproduction number increases

The national Covid-19 risk index fell to 71 points out of 100 on Sunday. However, one of the factors used to calculate it, the reproduction number, worsened, climbing to 1.05.

The risk index has been in the bracket for level four for weeks but level five measures remain in place. The government will not ease those restrictions until there is a significant fall in the number hospitalised with the coronavirus.

There were 4,800 newly confirmed cases on Saturday, a rise of around 750 on the previous week.