Ireland has recorded 2,193 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours.
As of 8am today, 513 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 97 are in ICU.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: “I am increasingly worried about the rising incidence of the disease nationwide. Our primary focus now must be to protect the most vulnerable from COVID-19.
“We are seeing a continuing increase in hospitalisation and intensive care admissions – a substantial amount of whom are not fully vaccinated - placing our frontline healthcare services, including non-COVID care, under significant pressure.
“It is essential that we do everything we can to break the chains of transmission of the Delta variant, in the community, in the workplace and in our homes. If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, even if you are vaccinated, please stay at home, isolate from others and arrange a free test immediately.
“If you have not done so already, please choose to protect yourself by availing of your free COVID-19 vaccine which will significantly reduce your risk of severe illness if you contract the disease.
“The vaccine, our best defence against COVID-19, is not the only tool we have to drive down the spread of the disease. Please continue to regularly wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, open windows and ensure spaces are well ventilated, wear masks on public transport, shops, indoor workplaces and crowded outdoor areas, and by keeping a safe 2m distance from others as much as possible.”
The figures come hours after new guidelines were published for pubs and nightclubs.
Digital tickets will have to be booked at least an hour before arriving at a nightclub or a live event where there will be dancing, hospitality representatives have been told.
Hospitality stakeholders held a meeting with Government officials on Tuesday morning after representatives from the sector said they were left “betrayed” over the ticketing rules.
The new ticketing system will kick in later this week with regulations for the new system likely to be published by Government on Thursday.
Reps from the live entertainment sector have been told by officials that no congregation will be allowed at the entrance of venues and only people with tickets can queue.
Publicans want a two week delay on enforcing the new system as they need time to figure out how they implement the measures.
The industry is expected to have the system in place once the regulations are signed - likely to be Thursday.
