Omicron now present in 16 counties, including Tipperary, Limerick, and Waterford

Healthcare workers are 'anxious, apprehensive, and understandably fearful' of what may lie ahead

On Tuesday, 31,992 PCR tests were carried out, the busiest day in the pandemic to date. File Picture: iStock

The HSE remains “fearful” about the rapid spread of Covid-19 with more than one in five people tested returning positive results and officials warning it is still too early to say when cases might peak.

The GisAid variant tracker is now showing Omicron cases across 16 counties in Ireland, including Tipperary, Limerick, and Waterford.