PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS have confirmed 1,173 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

The Department of Health has reported that 79 patients with the illness are in hospital today, including 23 in intensive care units.

Data relating to the number of deaths associated with the coronavirus disease, as well as case numbers by county, have been affected by the cyber attack on the HSE IT systems.

Yesterday there were 994 new cases of Covid-19 and 80 patients in hospital, with 22 in intensive care units.

Amid the rising cases of Covid-19, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told reporters that Ireland has been the slowest in Europe to reopen society and that this has been a “wise” approach. 

“The Delta variant is here, there will be an increase in case numbers, we’re watching very carefully the impact on hospitalisations and on ICUs,” Martin said. 

“I’m in regular contact with public health authorities and ultimately we will say to people, it’s important to get your vaccines, they do offer us protection individually but they also help protect your loved ones, families and wider society.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said this evening that cases are increasing in 22 out of 26 counties. The greatest majority of cases are occurring in people who have not yet been fully vaccinated.

“The current trajectory of the highly transmissible Delta variant across the country means that unvaccinated people are at high risk of contracting Covid-19, with just over 50% of today’s cases aged between 19-34 years old.

We need those who are waiting for full vaccination to take every precaution this weekend and to adhere strongly to the public health advice as they await their vaccines – this includes limiting your social contacts, meeting outdoors, staying 2m apart, wearing masks and avoiding international travel.

“If you are experiencing symptoms of cold and flu: headache, sore throat, runny nose, please let your close contacts know, stay at home and get tested as soon as possible for Covid-19,” he said. 

Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Professor Philip Nolan, tweeted graphs showing a significant rise in cases recently among those aged 16 and 34.

He called the rise in those aged 16-18 “exceptional”, as one graph shows incidence cases rising from less that 10 per 100,000 to over 40 per 100,000.

We are seeing very rapid increases in incidence in 16-18, 19-24 and 25-34 year olds. The rise in those aged 16-18 years is exceptional. Please do everything you can to stay safe, and to encourage and support those around you to stay safe too. pic.twitter.com/drofQphJVn

— Professor Philip Nolan (@President_MU) July 16, 2021

Incidence cases in those aged 19-24 has almost doubled in the last month, from just over 20 cases per 100,000 to nearly 50 cases per 100,000.

Speaking this morning, HSE Chief Paul Reid said that GPs are increasingly referring more younger people to hospital, while there is also concern about them contracting long Covid. 

“We have many incidents where people may not have been hospitalised, but long Covid can significantly impact younger people as well,” Reid said.

With additional reporting from Niamh Quinlan.