CMO says only meet people you're spending Christmas with as 5,279 cases confirmed

Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

A further 5,279 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), has urged young people to reduce social contacts in the lead-up to Christmas and meet only those they plan to spend Christmas Day with.

"As we continue to see incidence rising in our young adult population, I would urge all parents, guardians and extended friends and family to support the young people in your lives to reduce their contacts.

"This week, try and only meet with the people with whom you will spend Christmas Day. Keep your contacts as low as possible in order to protect those around you," he said.

I know that this is not an easy task for any of us and it can feel very unfair that we continue to ask so much of our young people, particularly at this special time of year.

"This group have made significant sacrifices in order to protect loved ones and I would like to thank them for that. It is important now that we continue to encourage and support each other to make sacrifices, take responsible actions and continue to follow the public health advice," he said.

Dr Holohan added that one in six young adults are yet to come forward for vaccination or are not fully vaccinated.

"Vaccination offers very good protection against severe illness, so it is important that everyone who is eligible for a vaccine comes forward for one.

"If you display any symptoms of Covid-19 then you must self-isolate straight away and arrange a test. 

Do not rely on a negative antigen test as a basis for not isolating.

"Omicron now accounts for about two-thirds of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Public health teams are reporting a higher level of infection among household close contacts as a result of Omicron infection. 

"If there is one positive test, whether from a PCR or an antigen test, within a group such as a household then there is a significant chance that others are already infected, even if not yet testing positive. If one person from a household tests positive prior to an event or gathering, then none should attend."

There are 443 people hospitalised with the virus, down 24 since yesterday. Of these 102 are in ICU. 

Booster jab wait time for people who had Covid reduces to three months

New advice issued on Tuesday says people who had the virus need only wait three months before getting a booster shot.

Until now the advice in Ireland was to wait six months between having the virus and getting the booster, as it was previously accepted that immune response to the virus ie protection against re-infection remained strong for that long.

Health minister Stephen Donnelly said: “The emergence of Omicron has prompted this amendment, specifically the significant concerns we have about the risk of re-infection which is estimated to be approximately five-fold higher with Omicron compared to the Delta strain.” 

He called on eligible people to get the booster which is as of Tuesday open to over-40s, healthcare workers, pregnant women and people vulnerable to the virus.

“Each of us can take actions this week to protect ourselves and our loved ones, even if this means rethinking plans for the Christmas period, especially if you are not yet boosted or vaccinated,” he said.

The change to the three-month gap was advised by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) on Tuesday evening. It is in line with that in some other countries.