The National Public Health Emergency Team will discuss the sudden rise in the number of people admitted to intensive care with Covid-19, at its weekly meeting this morning.
The Chief Medical Officer, Tony Holohan, has expressed concern that 8 people were admitted to ICU with the virus yesterday - the highest number in a 24-hour period since last Spring.
A further 5 deaths were reported from the virus last evening, with 227 new cases.
This includes 10 more cases in Galway, 7 in Mayo, less than 5 in Roscommon and no new cases in either Sligo or Leitrim.
The 14-day incidence rate of the virus nationally is now 79 per 100,000 people - with all Connacht counties remaining below that figure.
However, Dr Tony Holohan warned that Covid-19 is still an extremely infectious disease which has the potential to lead to hospitalisation and even ICU admissions.
He said we are actively planning to begin vaccinating people early in the New year, and we cannot afford to drop our guard now.
The National Public Health Emergency Team will also discuss the planned rollout of coronavirus vaccines when it meets today.
