More than 5,000 new Covid-19 cases were reported over the bank holiday weekend as the level of coronavirus infection in the community continued to decline.
There were 2,249 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 in total between Saturday and Tuesday, according to the Department of Health, while a further 2,835 positive antigen tests were reported to the HSE.
The 188 positive PCRs reported on Sunday was the lowest such daily number since September 2020, although the figures are not comparable due to changes in testing rules.
Five further Covid-19 deaths in the State were reported on Tuesday, bringing the State’s total death toll from the virus to 7,087.
The number of patients with Covid-19 in hospital increased over the weekend, from a seven-month low of 349 on Saturday to 396 on Tuesday. The number of patients with the disease in intensive care remained stable, at 39 on Tuesday, the same total recorded last Friday.
The positivity rate on confirmed PCR-tested cases continues to fall and stood at 15.1 per cent on Tuesday.
Covid cert
Meanwhile, the EU digital Covid-19 cert is being extended until June of next year after the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee endorsed proposals to keep the pandemic travel system in place for another year.
The certificate is issued as proof of a person having either been vaccinated against the disease or having recovered from it in the last six months. It was introduced last June to facilitate free movement in the EU during the pandemic.
Ireland has removed a requirement for visitors to the State to produce the pass but it is still required in some holiday destinations popular with Irish people such as Portugal.
