Covid crisis: More new cases since Christmas Day than for whole of 2020

A total of 23,281 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 have today been notified to the Department of Health, the highest daily figure to date.

As of 8 a.m., there were 656 people being treated in hospital, down 26 on the same time yesterday.

There are 85 people in intensive care units with the virus, a fall of one.

More than 120,000 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Ireland since Christmas Day.

It means there were more cases recorded here between Christmas and New Year 2021 than in the whole of 2020 (91,779).

Ireland's Covid-19 testing system is still coming under extreme pressure.

It was reported earlier today that no PCR test appointments available anywhere in the country.