Tanaiste Leo Varadkar issued a downbeat update on the number of positive Covid tests in Ireland on Friday, ahead of an announcement on restrictions.
He tweeted a picture showing that there were 5,124 positive tests for Covid on Friday.
The number of actual Covid cases could be lower, as some people get tested multiple times, but the figure appears to show an increase from the 4,141 confirmed Covid-19 cases yesterday.
Alongside the screenshot, Varadkar wrote: “Omicron beginning to show in the figures, unfortunately. Highest daily number of positive laboratory swabs since January if not ever.”
Earlier today however, the Tanaiste confirmed that there were 420 people in hospital today with the virus, down even further from yesterday’s 443 - the lowest since mid-October.
Speaking about the number of people hospitalised with Covid-19, he wrote on Twitter: “420 in hospital today. Down 40% from peak a few weeks ago.
“We were winning the fight against Delta now Omicron is coming when we are at our most vulnerable - winter, Christmas, flu season. It’s a cruel virus.”
Varadkar addressed the public backlash at NPHET’s recommendations, including a 5pm curfew for pubs, saying: “We’re all feeling anger, frustration, dismay, depression but that cannot deflect us from making the right decisions to keep our people safe.”
NPHET’s proposals to Government will be deliberated at a full Cabinet meeting on Friday, expected to take place around 2.30pm.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin is expected to address the nation on Friday evening, around 6pm, with an update on any new Covid restrictions decided in the Cabinet meeting.
If NPHET’s recommendations are taken on board by the government, the new rules are expected to come into effect from next Monday.
Have your say on closing schools early below, or click here.
