LATEST: Cabinet and NPHET meet to discuss Omicron variant as 3,735 new Covid cases confirmed
A further 3,735 people have contracted Covid-19, the Department of Health confirmed this evening.
And there are now 566 patients being treated for the virus in hospitals, a rise of 30 since yesterday. Of these, 117 patients are receiving treatment in intensive care units, a drop of one from.
The latest figures were confirmed as the leaders of the three Coalition parties are due to meet the National Public Health Emergency Team tomorrow to discuss the Omicron variant.
It is understood NPHET will meet tomorrow afternoon and assess guidance from its Epidemiological Team which has been monitoring the variant situation across Europe this weekend.
The Cabinet is due to hold its weekly meeting on Tuesday, but no sub committee meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow night.
Earlier today, a leading immunology professor said it is not inevitable that new Omicron variant of Covid-19 will be more contagious or cause more severe illness in people.
NUI Maynooth Professor of Immunology Paul Moynagh said that the new variant “warrants caution and attention, but not panic”. He added that studies over the coming weeks will provide a clearer picture of its impact.
