Health officials have announced a further 1,377 COVID cases this afternoon.
Last night, there were 78 coronavirus patients in hospital – one less than yesterday but 26 more than this day last week.
There are now 22 in intensive care – one less than yesterday and six more than last week.
In a Twitter message, the deputy CMO Dr Ronan Glynn said Ireland’s 14-day incidence rate is now over 180 cases per 100,000 people.
He said the five-day average is at the highest level it has been at since February.
“We are seeing particularly high incidence among people aged 16 to 3o-years-old and unfortunately now over the past few days we have begin to see these high cases translate into increasing numbers in our hospitals and intensive care units.”
He said the vaccinate rollout offers great hope noting that 60% of the adults in Ireland are now fully vaccinated.
“Unfortunately, despite that, at the moment we still have over 2.5 million adults and children in this country who are not adequately protected through vaccination.
“That is a really big reservoir of people.”
Unfortunately, we are reporting our highest five day average of cases since the middle of February. @ronan_glynn gives us the latest update on #COVID19
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) July 17, 2021
It comes as Ireland prepares to drop testing and isolation rules for fully vaccinated people arriving in from the US and Britain.
The new rules will come into effect form Monday alongside the EU Digital COVID Cert.
