The Department of Health has today reported 6,307 further cases of COVID-19 in the State.
As of 8am today, 429 people with COVID are hospitalised across the country, of whom 100 are in intensive care units.
There has been a total of 5,890 deaths related to the virus notified in the Republic, including 55 deaths newly notified since last Wednesday.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that recent research has shown that many people have reviewed their plans for Christmas, reduced their social contacts and changed or postponed plans in order to protect themselves and their loved ones.
“This is a big sacrifice that many have made and will do much to protect all of us over the festive period,” he said.
“It is important that we remember that COVID-19 will still be circulating at a high level after Christmas and into the New Year, and even though it is a difficult message to hear, we must all continue to keep our social contacts low and do all we can to continue to adhere to the public health advice.”
Holohan said that young people are making a “really big effort” to act responsibly and to follow the public health advice.
“It is really important that we all remember there is no one person or group or thing to blame for the situation we find ourselves in, other than the COVID-19 virus.”
