'Socialising' driving surge of Covid-19 cases in Limerick and Mid-West

The region has seen over 7,000 cases since December 18

University Hospital Limerick, where more than 200 staff were unavailable for work on Tuesday, according to health officials. File Picture.

Covid-19 cases which were identified in social settings and in the community throughout December have played a contributing factor in a number of outbreaks in healthcare and long-term care facilities settings in the Mid-West.

This is according to the Department of Public Health Mid-West, which is calling on people in Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary to help frontline workers by staying at home.