Record 13,765 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Ireland

While vaccination centres around the country are closed today and St Stephen's Day, many PCR testing centres are still open, though at reduced capacity. File Picture Brendan Gleenson

For a second consecutive day, a record number of new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Ireland. 

A further 13,765 cases were reported by health officials this afternoon - surpassing yesterday's total of 11,182. 

According to health officials, the Omicron Covid-19 variant now accounts for more than 83% of infections.

A Department of Health spokesperson said that, in anticipation of large volumes of case numbers over the coming days, daily case numbers will be based on positive SARS-CoV-2 results uploaded to the HSE's Covid Care Tracker on the preceding day.

The spokesperson said that today's figures are provisional and subject to future review and validation. 

"The Health Protection and Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and other surveillance partners will continue to notify and process cases and outbreaks of Covid-19 on the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) system over this period," the spokesperson added.

The @hpscireland has today been notified of 13,765* confirmed cases of #COVID19.

As of 8am today, 378 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 87 are in ICU.

— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) December 25, 2021

Number of Covid patients in hospital drops to lowest total in 10 weeks

378 patients with Covid-19 were being treated in hospitals around the country as of 8am this morning - a drop of 15 compared with yesterday’s total.

This morning’s figure is the lowest recorded since October 9, when there were 353 people hospitalised with the virus.

Of those in hospital this morning, 97 were receiving treatment in intensive care.

Meanwhile, vaccination centres around the country will be closed for Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day, but will reopen on Monday, December 27.

However, PCR testing centres will be open today and tomorrow, though they will be operating at a slightly reduced capacity.

To date, roughly 2,000,000 Covid-19 booster jabs have been administered in Ireland.

According to the chair of the High-Level Task Force on Covid-19 Vaccination, Professor Brian MacCraith, some 400,000 boosters were administered this week alone.

In a tweet yesterday, Prof MacCraith expressed his gratitude to GP practices, Defence Forces personnel and all of those who have helped facilitate the booster rollout so far.

At the end of a remarkable week:
💉 >400k doses administered
💉 ~2m boosters/3rd doses now given

Gratitude is due to so many:
Vaccinator teams in VCs
GPs & Practice Nurses
Community Pharmacies
Defence Forces
NAS
Volunteers@HSELive@roinnslainte
& many more! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/e0PtBtC2O6

— Brian MacCraith (@muirtheimhne) December 24, 2021