Another 4,022 cases of Covid have been confirmed today (Thursday).
A total of 530 people are in hospital with the virus with 115 of these in intensive care.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) said that five more cases of the Omicron variant have now been detected, bringing to six the total number of cases identified following whole genome sequencing.
The Chief Medical Officer has said that following the confirmation of the Omicron cases, a number of other probable cases are under investigation.
Dr Tony Holohan said: “Although this is a new variant, our early understanding gives us confidence that a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine will offer good protection against Omicron and Delta infection.
“Our current wave of disease continues to be driven by the Delta variant of Covid-19. We know that the public health measures we are so familiar with will break the chains of transmission of Delta, and we are confident they will work on Omicron.”
