The number of coronavirus infections reported on Monday dipped significantly after testing and vaccination centres were closed during the weekend snowstorm.

Several locations remained shut on Monday morning as the big freeze. In the 24 hours to 10am 2,273 cases were added to the total, a drop of 28.7% against last Monday’s figure and well below the seven-day average.

The number of patients in hospital increased by 54 to 2,034, in line with the trend of fewer people being discharged over the weekend. There were 164 new admissions, seven more than yesterday’s figure, while 542 patients are in intensive care, an increase of seven.

The positive test rate was 10.9%, slightly lower than in recent weeks but well above the World Health Organization’s target level of 5% for easing lockdown restrictions.

Another 25 deaths were recorded, bringing the seven-day average figure down to 58 from 65 a week ago. The number of nursing homes with recent infections has fallen from 643 to 579 since last Monday.