LATEST: 469 new cases of virus, alert over ‘phishing scam’ playing on people’s cyber fears

A further 469 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed this evening as the number of people being treated in hospitals across the country for the virus increased slightly.

The Department of Health reported 103 people are being treated for the virus in hospitals, up two on yesterday, while 38 people are being treated in Intensive Care Units, the same as yesterday’s figures.

The county-by-county breakdown of the latest cases are not available due to the HSE ransomware attack.

This afternoon details of a new phishing scam emerged which plays on the concerns of people who may be affected by the HSE’s cyberattack.

The Department of Health took to its social media channels to warn the public about the threat.

Reports have been circulating online of people receiving calls from callers pretending to be HSE staff either requesting personal information or asking people to confirm personal details.

The Department of Health has responded to these scam calls and told the public neither the Department of Health nor the HSE will contact people either by phone or text.

The warning, posted on the department’s twitter page in the last hour said: “Please be alert to scam calls/messages claiming to be from the Department of Health, which may be seeking personal information.

“The Department will not contact you in this way. Do not share any personal info.

“Let vulnerable friends or family know this,” the statement concluded.