624 people in hospital with Covid as CMO urges people with symptoms to stay home

A woman wearing a face mask walks past a sign outside a cafe on a street in Co Cavan (PA)

The chief medical officer has appealed to people to stay at home if they have flu-like symptoms and to return to wearing masks on public transport.

Breda Smyth said that this advice includes not going to a Christmas party or meeting family on Christmas Eve if they have new Covid-like symptoms.