A further 4,799 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland today.
As of 8am Monday, 467 patients are being treated in hospital, 104 of whom are in ICU.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan has appealed to young people to limit their social contacts if they are yet to receive a booster vaccine, as the positivity rate for the age group increased sharply within the last seven days.
He said: “The level of disease and positivity rate amongst young adults has increased sharply in the last week. One in four people in the 16 – 34-year-old age group that are going for a PCR test have received a 'detecte' result. This is one of the highest rates since the beginning of the pandemic.
“This high level of disease in young people represents a high risk to those they come into contact with who have yet to be vaccinated or receive their booster. Therefore, if you have not yet received your booster you are best to avoid unnecessary contact with people outside your household. "
Dr Holohan asked people to rethink their Christmas plans, if they have not already done so, to ensure the safety of friends and family is at the forefront.
He said: “Christmas week is an important time for many of us. However, it is also a time that presents unique opportunities for COVID to spread because of the possible extent of inter-household and inter-generational mixing. Each of us can take actions this week to protect ourselves and our loved ones, even if this means rethinking plans for the Christmas period, especially if you are not yet boosted or vaccinated.
“As difficult as it may seem, limiting as much as possible your Christmas to small numbers and very close family will protect them. This is an exceptional sacrifice to ask after the very difficult year all of us have had, so please remember that it may be the decision that protects yourself or a loved one from the severe impacts of COVID-19."
The Chief Medical Officer also said some stark new Amarach figures revealed that only half of people with symptoms are isolating.
He said: “It's also a concern that our latest Amarach tracking data shows that only half of people with symptoms are isolating. This is the single most important piece of basic public health advice - it is vital that you isolate as soon as you experience any symptoms of COVID-19 and arrange a PCR test. Do not meet up with others and put them at risk of COVID-19 or another respiratory infection. Do not rely on a negative antigen test as a basis for not isolating.”
