Covid crisis: 5,959 new cases, 640 in hospital

A total of 5,959 new cases of Covid-19 have been notified to the Department of Health today.

There are 640 patients in hospital, 121 in intensive care units.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio One this afternoon, the chaiman of NPHET's expert advisory group said Ireland cannot afford to continue as a country on this trajectory over the coming weeks.

Dr. Cillian de Gascun stated the situation is "very serious in many respects."

"We know that the public health measures that people have been practicing over the last two years will be effective against this virus.

"The problem is that we have to do them better and do them for a longer period of time to get the same benefit with Delta as we would have had with the original virus back in 2020 and even with Alpha around the start of the new year," he added.