LATEST: Taoiseach warns of ‘different’ Delta wave as 448 new cases confirmed

And the Department of Health has confirmed that, as of 8am this morning, 42 people were being treated for Covid-19 in hospitals.

It is the lowest number of patients to be hospitalised for the virus over the past week. There were six new hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.

The latest figures come as the Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned the next wave of Covid-19 infections brought on by a surge in Delta cases will be different to what we have experienced before.

And he urged people to be vigilant to protect the progress made so far against the virus.

Speaking in county Cork earlier today, the Taoiseach said each wave has seen significantly different things that people can and cannot do.

“Delta does present a challenge. The interesting issue will be the link between volume of cases and hospitalisation,” he told reporters.

“We are concerned about it, but that said, we have significant numbers of the population vaccinated, we are going to accelerate that in the coming month, it is a race between the vaccines and the virus.

“There will be a wave, but it will be different in its impact than previous waves.”