Ireland Covid-19: 271 new cases, with 27 people in ICU

The Department of Health has been notified of a further 271 new cases of Covid-19.

The number of people being treated in hospital for the virus stands at 77, of which 27 are in ICU, which is up one from yesterday.

The department said daily case numbers may change due to future data review, validation and update.

This afternoon, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said more than million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the State so far.

He urged those aged between 40-69 who have yet to register for a vaccine to do so.

Elsewhere, there have been no further Covid-19 deaths recorded by Northern Ireland's Department of Health in the last 24-hour reporting period.

There were another 81 confirmed cases of the virus recorded.

This morning, there were 15 confirmed Covid-19 patients in hospital, none of whom were in intensive care.

It is the first time in ten months that there have been no Covid-19 patients in ICU in Northern Ireland.

Online test bookings

Niamh O'Beirne, the HSE National Lead for Covid-19 Testing and Tracing, told RTÉ's Drivetime that a free online referral portal for people coming to Ireland to book free PCR tests.

She said more than 1,500 people have booked tests at their local sites via the online portal since the weekend.

"This enables you to do book a day five test," Ms O'Beirne said.

"You do a test in the country you're in, before you travel, and then you go into home quarantine.

"And on day five, you can come forward for your test, and then on a not detected result you will be released from home quarantine. So far we've seen just over 1,500 people book their local sites anywhere around the country."

She said the rationale for the online referral portal is to "encourage people to come forward for testing".

"The alternative is 14-day home quarantine, but this will be a more attractive option, because you may be able to leave home quarantine earlier," she said.

Ms O'Beirne said a self-referral portal for people to book a Covid-19 test will also be rolled out nationally later this week.

"You can choose to book your own online tests, so that you can pick your time rather than just having to turn up at the walk-in centre," she said.

Outbreaks in Limerick

Separately today, the HSE's Department of Public Health Mid-West said that there had been an increase in Covid-19 outbreaks in workplaces in Limerick and across the mid-west area amid a rising incidence in recent weeks.

In the past two weeks, Public Health Mid-West has recorded 858 new cases of Covid-19 in Limerick, 65 in Clare and 40 in north Tipperary.

It is currently investigating ten workplace outbreaks involving 128 cases and an estimated 270 close contacts.

It is also investigating more than 15 outbreaks among schools and early education settings.

Dr Mai Mannix, Director of Public Health Mid-West, said: "Because of the high incidence of Covid-19 in the community and the recent easing of restrictions, people who are unvaccinated will be at higher risk of infection, so I am urging everyone to redouble their efforts when socialising with friends and family.

"Reduce your social contacts, meet outdoors, and avoid indoor social contact outside the public health guidelines."

Speaking to Drivetime, Ms O'Beirne said indoor gatherings appear to be the primary cause for the increase in case numbers in recent weeks.

"Primarily, we understand it to be indoor mixing," she said.

"So anything from extended family dinners, lunches to birthday parties, and end of school and college indoor celebrations. In workplaces, there seems to be an increase in staff mixing indoors without masks."

She said the under-40s are the group with the highest number coming forward for testing.

The positivity rate among the over-60s is less than 2%, she said, compared to 6-7% in younger age cohorts.

Ms O'Beirne said 1,000 swabs had been taken in the Limerick region by 4pm today. She said she expected up to 1,300 by the end of the day.

"This would be a good turnout", she said.

Also on Drivetime this evening, the Chief Executive of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) said that there have been less than five people who have experienced the rare form of blood clotting events associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Dr Lorraine Nolan said these figures are based on the HPRA's last monthly report on 13 May.

She said when the figure is less than five, they do not report the exact numbers in such cases.

Dr Nolan said the incidence of these rare events is fully in line with international experience. She said those individuals involved were all making a very good recovery.