ANOTHER 50 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Donegal on an evening when there were 970 new cases nationwide.
Donegal’s 14-day incidence rate, per 100,000 population, remains the highest in the country at 290.8.
There have been 463 new cases in Donegal over the last 14 days – the highest number anywhere outside Dublin.
A further 13 deaths were reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and 970 new cases.
There have been 2,171 deaths and 81,228 cases since the outbreak.
Of the cases notified today: 470 are men and 494 are women; 64 per cent are under 45 years of age; the median age is 37 years old.
As of 2pm today, 238 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 28 are in ICU. There have been 23 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “The current trajectory of the disease in the community is of grave concern. In the last seven days to midnight Monday, we have reported 4,478 cases, an increase of more than 110 per cent over the preceding week.
“In the last 5 days, we have seen extraordinary growth in the incidence of the virus across the country, significantly increasing the level of risk associated with the kind of inter-generational mixing that is normally experienced over the Christmas holidays.
“To protect ourselves, our families and our vulnerable loved ones in particular, further economic and social restrictions will begin to be introduced from Christmas Eve.
“It is up to each one of us to rethink our plans for this Christmas period, especially when it comes to visiting older or more medically vulnerable family members and friends.”
Earlier today, sixteen more Covid-19 related deaths and 439 new cases were confirmed in Northern Ireland, where hospital occupancy rates are at 100 per cent.