The Department of Health has reported 3,887 further cases of COVID-19 in the State today.
As of 8am today, 493 people with COVID-19 are hospitalised nationally, of whom 109 are in intensive care units.
Dr Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer, said that the results today suggest that approximately 14% of the cases are due to the Omicron variant.
“In line with the experience of many other countries, we can expect this proportion to rise rapidly over the coming days,” said Dr Holohan.
“The goal now is to limit the spread of COVID-19 through our tried and tested preventive measures. These measures can protect us and our families and will allow time for the booster vaccination programme to take effect.
“This means that as we move closer to Christmas, we must try to reduce the number of people we meet, avoid crowds and work from home unless it is essential to attend in person.
“I encourage anyone eligible for a booster vaccination to take that opportunity. Boosters are proven to be effective in restoring protection against all variants of COVID-19.”
