The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, has urged the public to continue following the public health guidelines as the dangerous Delta variant continues to cause a rise in Covid cases in Ireland.
A total of 534 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland, while 58 patients are currently being treated in hospitals.
Of these patients, 17 are in ICU.
The latest figures were confirmed by the Department of Health this evening.
Dr Holohan said: “COVID-19 is still circulating in our community and as we come into weekend, it is extremely important that we continue to adhere to the public health advice to stop the spread of the disease.
“If you are not yet fully vaccinated and you plan to socialise, please do so safely and meet outdoors. Please avoid crowds, wear a mask where appropriate, wash your hands, manage your contacts and maintain your social distance.
“If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 over the weekend, make sure to arrange a test as soon as possible and don’t put it off until Monday to contact your GP or attend a testing centre.”
Dr Holohan's plea came as the HSE CEO Paul Reid said that surging cases of Delta will see the variant beat the vaccine in the important race this summer.
The health service boss said he “wished” the HSE had “more time and more supply to stay ahead of the variant,” but admitted that sadly this is not the case.
Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, has repeatedly spoken of the crucial race in recent weeks, saying that we must try and stay ahead of the variant with our jabs programme.
But Mr Reid has revealed the latest projections from the HSE show that the invasive variant will win the race.
He said that, unfortunately: “Delta will outmatch supply of vaccines.”
And the HSE’s chief clinical officer, Dr Colm Henry, also warned of the growing dangers of the variant.
Dr Henry said that the country’s “floodwall is still holding tight, but, as with other floodwalls, if cases rise high enough, it will be breached.”
Mr Reid said: “the most likely scenario is that the increasing prominence of the Delta variant will most likely outmatch the supply of vaccines over the coming weeks.
“So it is really key that we do take quite seriously and deal with the concern, the variant with the concern that it deserves.”
