There have now been a total of 5,000 Covid-19 related deaths recorded in Ireland, according to the Department of Health.
These include possible, probable and confirmed deaths of Covid-19.
Among them was 72-year-old Peter Lalor, who died in February.
His family say they are still trying to come to terms with his death. His son says that he wants him to be remembered for who he was and not just as a statistic.
Peter died on 5 February 2021. He was 72.
Peter always had a smile, loved his grandchildren, adored his wife, was so proud of his son and was the "best father" to his daughter-in-law.
Peter Lalor and his wife Marie were hospitalised within days of each other earlier this year with Covid-19.
On 24 January, Marie was taken to hospital where she tested positive for the virus.
At that point, her family were told that their Mum had just days to live.
Peter was still at home. But then, he tested positive as well. His condition worsened and he was taken into the same hospital.
"My Mum didn't know that my Dad had been taken into the Mater Hospital", said their son, Darren.
"She was ringing his phone all the time. So we had to tell her that he had been [brought] in with Covid-19. My Mum pulled though. But unfortunately five days later, my Dad passed away on the 5th of February on his own with Covid-19."
He says that while his father's illness was very short, it is very hard to get your head around Covid-19.
"Going up to see your Dad in hospital and being told you can't touch him, you can't kiss him, you can't bring anything in or out and you have five minutes - it's completely unnatural," he said.
"And this is what Covid has brought to us."
Darren said that as life moves on for the country it is important to remember and that he believes a memorial for people who died from Covid-19 is a wonderful idea.
He said to think that his Dad has lived 72 years and has just become a statistic, it is very hard to balance that.
The memory of his Dad is still there, he said, and that people have to make sure that they do not forget to remember.
Darren said that while his father had a number of underlying conditions, his death certificate states that he died from Covid-19.
He urged people to continue to do the basics: "People say they're exempt from wearing a mask," he said, "but they're not exempt from getting Covid. I'm not exempt from getting Covid. I have seen my Dad's death certificate. It says Covid-19 on it. It doesn't say anything else - that's what it says."
While Peter's wife survived and came home, she is now on oxygen 24/7. She said her heart is broken.
"You can't believe that something like that would happen: him in there, me in there," she said. "But they didn't think that this was going to happen. He didn't come out and I did."
Although they were in the same hospital they were in separate rooms. But, before he died, the hospital organised for the couple to have some time together and brought Marie to her husband's bedside.
But she was not able to attend his funeral because she was still very unwell at the time and this was very difficult for her
Peter's daughter-in-law said she has lost such a huge part of her life. Fiona Gray Lalor, who is also the Assistant Director of Nursing at St James's Hospital, said while she has been working with Covid for the last year-and-a-half, it is so different when it is at your own door.
Fiona said they have not had time to grieve.
While Marie was in hospital, Fiona brought Peter down dinners every day.
"We'd have our little banter chat. But he was lonely and he was afraid and that was so hard to see."
Fiona is appealing to people to continue the basics: wash your hands, wear your mask and keep your distance.
She said: "We're in this now a year-and-a-half and we're still having to say to people: stand back, keep your distance."
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