PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS have confirmed 2,066 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

An additional 26 deaths were also announced today, bringing the total number to 5,306 since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of 8am today, 408 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 69 are in ICU.

Yesterday, there were 1,466 new cases of Covid-19, 402 people with the virus in hospital and 73 in ICU.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn also said that although there has been a good uptake of Covid-19 vaccines in recent months, those who had not been vaccinated were having a “disproportionate” impact on the health service.

“Unfortunately, there are still just under 300,000 adults who have not come forward for vaccination and a further 70,000 people have received just one dose of a two-dose schedule,” he said.

“The spread of disease in these 370,000 people is having a disproportionate impact on the profile of Covid-19 in our hospitals and intensive care units, with two out of every three people in intensive care not vaccinated.”

Glynn said that incidence of Covid-19 in Ireland is high and rising, and that those who are not vaccinated are at high risk of contracting this virus and becoming severely unwell.

“Choosing to get vaccinated is an act of protection for yourself – it may save your life – but it is also an act of solidarity with others; the more of us that get vaccinated, the safer we all are,” he added.