LATEST: Plans to ramp up boosters as over 4,000 new cases of virus confirmed

A further 4,004 people have contracted Covid-19, the Department of Health confirmed today.

And there are now 481 people in hospital, a drop of 30 since yesterday. Of these, 111 are being treated in ICU, an increase of one.

The latest figures come amid reports that people aged between 40 and 49 could be in line to receive boosters before Christmas.

RTÉ reports that indications from Government today suggest it is more than likely boosters will begin to be made available to this cohort by the end of next week.

This comes against the backdrop of rising fears that the Omicron variant will spark a renewed surge in Covid cases over the coming weeks.