By Muireann Duffy and Aoife Kearns
The Department of Health has been notified of 6,110 new cases of Covid-19, the highest number since the onset of the pandemic here, and six additional deaths.
The total number of cases recorded in the Republic since the start of the pandemic has now increased to 107,997 cases, while the death toll now stands at 2,265.
Of today’s cases, 65 per cent were under the age of 45 and 10 per cent were over the age of 65. The median age of the cases was 35-years-old.
106 additional cases of the virus have been confirmed in Waterford bringing the total number of cases reported in the county over the past 14 days to 482.
As of 2pm, there were 776 patients being treated for Covid-19 in hospital, while there are now 70 people being treated in Intensive Care Units throughout the country.
Ireland's national 14-day incidence rate is now 583 cases per 100,000 people.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Leaders and organisations in communities across the country now need to support their colleagues, neighbours, family and friends to keep to the spirit of public health advice.
"We must restrict our movements, we have to limit the people we interact with outside of our households if we are to suppress the virus and sustain our essential services.”
Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “People particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 include older persons and people with pre-existing medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer.
"The incidence of disease in the community is now at a level where vulnerable people need to stay at home unless absolutely essential.”
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: “Scenario models raise the possibility of 1,500-2,000 people in hospital, and 200-400 people in ICU by mid-January, if we do not act to radically reduce transmission and incidence.
"It will take all of us, adopting the public health measures of staying home and reducing contacts, to suppress current levels of disease.”
Back to school
Meanwhile, there have been calls for schools to remain closed past January 11th amid concern for students and teachers.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) have recommended schools stay closed after the Christmas holidays until January 18th.
The Government has said it still plans for schools to reopen as scheduled on the 11th, despite the high levels of transmission of Covid-19.
Minister for Education Norma Foley was due to meet with spokespeople from opposition parties today to discuss the return to school.
The Labour Party has said the decision as to whether it is safe to reopen schools should be left to the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) while Sinn Féin have called the plan to stick to January 11th as 'unrealistic'.
A final decision on the reopening of schools will be made on Wednesday according to Mr Donnelly.
