Highest number of daily cases in two months

The latest daily number of Covid-19 cases is the highest in more in than 2 months.

562 were reported yesterday, more than any day since May 1st.

14 people are being treated in intensive care while the numbers in hospital have increased by 6 in 24 hours to 48.

Professor Sam McConkey from the RCSI believes a fourth wave has begun.

"The last 15 or 16 days of cases have gradually started to rise. 

"W've an R of about 1.2, and this is the beginning of the fourth wave.

"I'm hoping that it will be much less traumatic to us as a country and as individuals than the second and third wave,  because I'm hoping that - following the UK - there'll be much less hospitalisation and much less ICU admission and hopefully much less rate of death."