A further 1,025 cases of Covid have been recorded in Ireland today.
Two further deaths of people with Covid-19 has also occurred.
The figures also show that on Christmas Eve, there were 26 confirmed cases of Coronavirus at Letterkenny University Hospital.
There has now been a total of 2,194 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland and 84,098 confirmed cases.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said the new UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 had been detected by whole genome sequencing at the National Virus Reference Laboratory in UCD.
“Further testing in the coming days and weeks will establish the extent to which it is present here. In the meantime, it is vitally important that we each stay at home, avoid social contact and avoid all forms of non-essential travel,” he added.
“It is particularly important that those who have arrived from the UK strictly self-isolate for a full 14 days following arrival. They should not interact with others, visit others, socialise or go shopping.
Dr Holohan said the HSE is making arrangements to test recent arrivals from the UK and also renewed his appeal for people to limit their contacts as much as possible over Christmas.
The best present people can give to their loved ones this Christmas is to strictly adhere to the public health advice, he added.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly last night confirmed that he has signed the regulation authorising the use of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine in Ireland.
The first delivery of almost 10,000 doses is due tomorrow – with the first vaccinations on 30 December.
Tags: