Infectious disease specialist fears covid cases won't decrease due to UK variant

457 new cases of the virus have been confirmed, along with 3 further deaths

An infectious diseases specialist says Covid-19 case numbers are refusing to budge because of the UK variant.  

The 14-day incidence rate per 100-thousand of the population now stands at 160.

237 patients with the disease were being treated in hospitals last night, with 61 in ICU.

Professor Sam McConkey of the RCSI says we're dealing with a strain that's more transmissable.