No new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported, however 384 new cases of the virus have been confirmed.

This brings the total number of cases in the Republic to 226,741, while the number of deaths stands at 4,534.

Of the 384 new cases, 145 occurred in Dublin, 41 in Kildare, 37 in Offaly, 29 in Galway and 24 in Cork.

As of 8am on Sunday, there were 349 patients with confirmed COVID-19 in hospital, 86 of whom were in ICU. There had been an additional 17 hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

As of March 11, 589,513 doses of the COVID vaccine had been administered. Over 162,000 people have received both of their two doses.

Earlier, the Department of Health's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, confirmed that the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) had recommended that the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine should be suspended from March 14, as a precautionary measure.

The recommendation was made following a report from the Norwegian Medicines Agency of four new reports of serious blood clotting events in adults after vaccination with the vaccine. 

"It has not been concluded that there is any link between the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine and these cases. However, acting on the precautionary principal, and pending receipt of further information, the NIAC has recommended the temporary deferral of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccination programme in Ireland," Dr Glynn said.