There are 1,384 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland today, the Department of Health has announced. 

There are currently 382 people in hospital with the virus - of whom 74 are being treated in the intensive care unit. 

The five-day moving average of cases is 1,503.

The case numbers mark a significant drop off since Friday and Saturday, when the number hovered around the 2,000 mark - something that Eoghan de Barra, a Senior Lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons, told Newstalk would be a “worrisome trend” if continued: 

“Well, largely they’re managing but it means that non-COVID capacity is going to be strained. 

“And I think should this trend continue, then it’s really worrisome. Especially as we head towards winter which typically means greater pressure on healthcare.” 

Booster shots

De Barra suggested that booster shots given to the elderly are important, but it is still too soon to know exactly what impact they will have: 

“We don’t really know. We know that there’s good evidence that those groups that NIAC [National Immunisation Advisory Committee] have recommended have a poor antibody response. 

“And there’s data that infection rates are slightly higher in some countries that are further along this than us. 

“So if it’s recommended, we need to go with it. Because… the plan shouldn’t fail just because we don’t follow the plan.” 

Yesterday the Government announced that 92% of adults over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated, while around 91% of people over the age of 12 had received one dose. 

Main image: A medic prepares a COVID test. Picture by: MoiraM/Alamy Stock Photo