LATEST: Holohan urges people not to New Year party as over 20,000 new cases of virus confirmed

A further 20,110 more people have tested positive for Covid-19, the Department of Health confirmed this evening.

There are now 682 people in hospital being treated for the virus, a rise of 63 since yesterday. Of these, 86 are in ICU, a drop of two.

Commenting on the latest figures, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “Once again, we are reporting another very high number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. The number of people in hospital with [the disease] is continuing to increase.

“I know many people have cancelled or postponed planned social and family events, not just for New Year’s Eve, but right throughout the Christmas period.

The occasions in life we most look forward to have been changed utterly by this pandemic. However, these collective efforts are necessary to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our health service.”