Covid surge due to 'exceptional growth' in infections among young people aged 16 to 18

Young people in Ireland face an extraordinary challenge — just as opportunities to socialise are opening up, people in their age group are suffering a surge of Covid cases. 

Ireland yesterday recorded over 1,000 new cases of Covid-19 for the first time since early February, driven by the “exceptional growth” in infections among younger people, particularly those aged 16 to 18.

In total, 1,137 new cases of the virus were recorded, with 79 Covid patients in hospital and 23 in intensive care. However, the country’s ICUs could see more than 200 Covid-related admissions in the coming months, health minister Stephen Donnelly has warned.