There has been a slight increase in the number of Covid-19 patients in Irish hospitals, new data show.
As of 8am on Thursday, there were 197 patients in hospital with the virus — up from 180 on Tuesday. There were 20 patients in intensive care units (ICU) as of on Thursday — up two since Wednesday.
A further 615 cases were confirmed by PCR test, with 847 registered through positive antigen tests on Wednesday.
An 77 additional Covid-19 deaths were also reported. The total number of Covid-19 related deaths in the State since the pandemic began now stands at 7,381, according to the Department of Health.
Data from the European Centre for Disease Control shows 58.5 per cent of the Republic’s population have availed of a booster or additional dose of a Covid vaccine. Some 10.8 million doses of vaccines have been administered in State to date.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed an end to virtually all of the country’s Covid-19 restrictions near the end of January this year, saying Ireland had “weathered the Omicron storm”. Restrictions were dropped entirely on April 1st.
It is now advisory to continue to wear a face covering on public transport and in healthcare settings while testing is no longer necessary in the majority of people displaying symptoms unless they are a healthcare worker, pregnant or 55 years of age and have not received a booster.
If you are a close contact of any individual who tests positive for the virus, and if that person is not a healthcare worker, and is not symptomatic then you do not need to be tested for Covid-19. If you are symptomatic, it is advised that you self-isolate for 48 hours until symptoms subside.
The current self-isolation period for anyone who does test positive is seven days.
