The Department of Health has been notified of 21,302 additional cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours here within the Irish Republic.
There are 884 people in hospital with the Covid-19 virus, an increase of 80 on yesterday, while 90 of these patients are in ICU, across the country down 3 on yesterday.
According to Health Service Executive CEO Mr Paul Reid, there is no indication that the Irish Republic has reached the peak of the current wave of Covid-19 cases.
The Health Products Regulatory Agency (HPRA) has received a number of reports from medical professionals and members of the public over the performance of the Genrui antigen test. The stated brand is one of the cheapest and most popular rapid antigen test brands; sold in supermarkets such as Dunnes Stores and Lidl.
Results indicated as positive when using the Genrui test are not being confirmed, when those who believed they were affected have gone for a PCR test.
Medical practitioners have confirmed that there appear to be a large proportion of ‘false positives’ with these named test kits and have warned that this could have major implications, especially now that antigen kits have taken on a greater role in the testing process here in the Republic.
Meanwhile, following a meeting between education Minister Norma Foley, public health representatives, the HSE and education stakeholders it has been accepted that a full reopening of schools will go ahead on Thursday next.
However, a World Health Organization official has stated that evidence is now emerging that the Omicron coronavirus variant is affecting the upper respiratory tract, thus causing milder symptoms than previous variants.
The HSE has confirmed that so far, around 50,300 children aged 5-11 years are now registered for Covid-19 vaccination. Just over 4,000 doses have been administered to date, amongst those children identified as a priority by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.
Here in Co. Tipperary, two post Offices, in the villages of Cappawhite & Kilsheelan remain closed, caused by staff shortages, caused by the pandemic
In Northern Ireland including today, the number of positive Covid-19 cases confirmed over the past seven days was 50,627.
Today also there were 348 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals, with 31 infected patients in northern hospital intensive care units.
Today Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has also, sadly, reported 15 more Covid-19-related deaths, over the past 4 days, bringing their total death number, since the start of the pandemic, to 2,995.
The USA recorded more than one million Covid-19 cases yesterday, according to data published by Johns Hopkins University, as the Omicron variant there also continues to spread rapidly in communities.
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