Positivity rate at record high but vaccines keeping hospital numbers down

A queue at the Covid test centre at Cork Airport business park this week. The HSE reported little to no waiting at vaccination centres across the country yesterday. Photo: Eddie O'Hare

The proportion of people being tested who are positive for Covid-19 is the highest it has been so far in the pandemic, amid a warning that Ireland is still at the early stages of the “rampant” Omicron surge.

However, the “wall of protection” built up by vaccination, boosters and prior infection is helping to prevent the high levels of hospitalisation seen in other waves, according to immunology professor Paul Moynagh.