There are 1,380 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Republic of Ireland today, the Department of Health has confirmed. 

459 people in hospital have tested positive for the disease, of whom 74 are being treated in intensive care. 

The five-day moving average has decreased slightly to 1,833 - down from 1,851 yesterday. 

Concern in Government

With case numbers still high, Taoiseach Micheál Martin hinted earlier this week that the planned end to certain restrictions could be delayed, describing growing cases numbers as a “matter of concern”, adding: 

“That is what I am saying right now and therefore we have to feed that into whatever decisions we make early next week.”

Public opinion

Currently, the requirement to show a COVID vaccine certificate to use indoor hospitality is due to end on Friday 22nd October. However, an opinion poll published in today’s Irish Mail on Sunday suggests that most people support the continuation of the measure. 

According to the poll, 76% of people believe the unvaccinated should still be subject to certain restrictions, 70% support the use of COVID vaccine certificates, while 82% support mandatory masks in certain settings. 

Only 12% of people support an end to all restrictions. 

However, Sunil Sharpe, spokesperson for the Give us the Night Campaign, said he was concerned about the continued use of vaccine passports: 

“It is obviously a measure that could help the [nightclub]  industry to reopen. But I do find it hard to subscribe to a measure that would continue a level of social exclusion. 

“I think there are some people who have their own reasons for not wanting to take the vaccine. For that reason, I’d be very hesitant to sign up to something like that.” 

The National Public Health Emergency team will meet on Monday and discuss the issue; its recommendation will then be discussed by the Cabinet on Tuesday. 

Main image: A sign in Dublin gives advice about how to stop the spread of COVID-19. Picture by: PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo/Brian Lawless