The transmission of Covid-19 in Ireland is continuing to surge with the latest HPSC figures showing 10 counties reporting a fourteen-day incidence of over 1,300.
Most counties are still working to flatten the increase of infection as many areas' 14-day incidence rates are in excess of 1,300 per 100,000 of the population.
Among the counties reporting the highest 14-day incidence rates up to December 15 were Carlow (1893.5), Westmeath (1577.1), Dublin (1548.1) Laois (1455.8), Kildare (1483.1) and Kilkenny (1402.8).
Just four counties have remained under the 1,000 mark per 100,000 population, which are Limerick (974.9), Cavan (916.3), Roscommon (876.9), and Mayo (824.5).
Ireland’s cities have continued to struggle with high case numbers and over the last week as Dublin reported 10,508 infections with a 7-day incidence rate of 779.9 - marking a doubling on last week’s numbers.
Meanwhile, Galway detected 1,276 infections in the last seven days and Cork had 3,753.
The national average stands at 1314.1 cases per 100,000 people, as the government looks at a range of measures to curb the surge.
It comes as health officials reported a total of 4,141 new cases of Covid on Thursday evening.
As of 8 am that day, 443 Covid-19 patients were in hospitals across the country receiving treatments for severe side effects of the virus - 108 of whom were in the ICU.
The total number of Omicron cases confirmed through whole-genome sequencing in Ireland to date has been revised down to 39 confirmed cases.
As worry continues to grow around the transmissibility of the new variant, NPHET issued a number of stern recommendations to the government ahead of a busy Christmas period.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin is due to make an announcement later today regarding the latest steps to be taken to curb the current rate of infection.
At this point, it is understood that recommendations were delivered via letter by Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan, with a number of restriction changes in the pipeline.
The government will reportedly consider an earlier closing curfew for hospitality venues that would come in from Monday.
There will likely be a 50% cap on indoor events held before 5 pm, after reports that NPHET sees every large gathering from this point as "super spreaders.”
It’s also likely that all close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases could be told they have to restrict their movements.
A full update on all of the new rules to come into effect will be given by the Taoiseach later today.
